adjective

monetary

/ˈmʌnɪtəri/ · say it: MUH·nuh·ter·ee

relating to money and interest rates

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) relating to money or currency

2. (adjective) relating to the money system or financial management of a country

Examples

1. The government announced monetary reforms to control inflation.
2. The central bank uses monetary policy to manage the economy.

How to use monetary

Monetary is a formal adjective primarily used in economics, finance, and policy contexts to describe anything concerning money, currency, or financial systems. It is more technical and formal than the general term 'financial,' which can apply to personal or organizational finances, whereas monetary typically refers to national currency systems and central bank operations.

Common phrases

monetary policy
monetary system
monetary value
monetary unit
monetary reform
monetary crisis

Synonyms

financial · economic · fiscal · pecuniary · currency-related

Word family

money (noun) · monetarily (adverb) · monetarism (noun) · monetarist (noun/adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'monetary' with 'monetary' and 'financial,' using them interchangeably when they have distinct applications—monetary specifically concerns currency and money supply, while financial is broader and includes budgeting, investments, and accounting.

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