legal tender

noun

: money that is legally valid for the payment of debts and that must be accepted for that purpose when offered

Examples of legal tender in a Sentence

Soon after France adopted the euro, the French franc ceased to be legal tender. coins and bills are considered legal tender, but postage stamps are not
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.
World & Nation How a California surfer helped bring bitcoin to El Salvador June 22, 2021 There were street protests when the Congress made bitcoin legal tender in June 2021, though that move was not the only motivation for the protesters. Marcos Alemán, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024 The slow but steady march of crypto products into mainstream financial systems — El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 — has piqued broader interest in the subject. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024 Countries like El Salvador and regions with economic instability increasingly turn to bitcoin as legal tender or reserve asset. Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 In June 2019, the government recognized the RTGS dollar as legal tender and rechristened it the new Zimbabwean dollar, while at the same time barring the use of the U.S. dollar. Tendai Biti, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2019 See all Example Sentences for legal tender 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legal tender was circa 1730

Dictionary Entries Near legal tender

Cite this Entry

“Legal tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legal%20tender. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

legal tender

noun
: money that the law authorizes for paying debts

Legal Definition

legal tender

noun
: money that is legally valid for the payment of debts and that must be accepted for that purpose when offered

More from Merriam-Webster on legal tender

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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