monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmä-nə-ˌter-ē 

also ˈmə-

: of or relating to money or to the mechanisms by which it is supplied to and circulates in the economy

a crime committed for monetary gain

a government's monetary policy

monetarily

ˌmä-nə-ˈter-ə-lē 

also ˌmə-

adverb

Synonyms of monetary

• financial
• economic
• fiscal

Examples of monetary in a Sentence

a crime committed for monetary gain

Gold was once the basis of the U.S. monetary system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Major global central banks are set to hold interest rates steady this week, but are expected to diverge on monetary policy once the fallout from the Middle East conflict becomes clearer. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026

The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and for Trader Joe's to stop selling the product through misleading marketing. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026

The 38-year-old soldier has been charged with commodities fraud, wire fraud, unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, and engaging in monetary transactions from unlawful activity. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026

The Fed's monetary policy committee is set to meet April 29. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin monetarius of a mint, of money, from Latin moneta

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing monetary

• monetary aggregate
• monetary unit

Rhymes for monetary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmän-ə-ˌter-ē 

also ˈmən-

: of or relating to money

this administration's monetary policy