Definition of MONEY (original) (raw)

often attributive

1

: something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment: such as

a

: officially coined or stamped metal currency

2

a

: wealth reckoned in terms of money

made her money in the insurance business

b

: an amount of money

raised the money for a new library

c

moneys or monies plural : sums of money : funds

the collection of tax monies

3

: a form or denomination of coin or paper money

wanted his money in $10 bills

4

a

: the first, second, and third place winners (as in a horse or dog race) —usually used in the phrases in the money or out of the money

b

: prize money

his horse took third money

5

a

: persons or interests possessing or controlling great wealth

politicians at the beck and call of money

Examples of money in a Sentence

Noun

That painting must be worth a lot of money. He earned some money last summer as a musician. We're trying to save enough money for a new car. The town is raising money for the elementary school. Friends would always ask her for money. It's an interesting idea, but there's no money in it: it'll never sell. He made his money in the insurance business. They decided to put all their money in the stock market. We didn't have much money when I was growing up. Most of the project is being paid for by federal monies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Barrels are typically traded within the industry through individual contracts between blenders and distillers, often involving cask exchanges rather than money, or via specialist Scotch whisky brokers. —Hugh Leask, CNBC, 9 May 2026 The 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to taking money to transport undocumented immigrants within the United States. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026 Chundi expressed concern about money being transferred from Resilience to the Westlaw account, after hearing some of the testimony. —Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 Of course, the point of flying Spirit was to spend as little money as possible. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for money

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English moneye, from Anglo-French moneie, from Latin moneta mint, money — more at mint

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of money was in the 14th century