dollar

noun

dol·​lar ˈdä-lər 

often attributive

1

: taler

2

: any of numerous coins patterned after the taler (such as a Spanish peso)

3

a

: any of various basic monetary units (as in the U.S. and Canada) see Money Table

b

: a coin, note, or token representing one dollar

4

: ringgit

5

: money obtained from a specific source

the tourism dollar

Did you know?

In the mountains of Bohemia is the small town of Jáchymov. In the early 16th century, the town was known by its German name, Sankt Joachimstal. At that time, a silver mine was opened nearby, and coins were minted to which the name joachimstaler was applied. In German this was shortened to Taler. Shortly afterward the Dutch or Low German form daler was borrowed into English to refer to the Taler and other coins that were patterned after it, such as the Spanish peso, which circulated widely in Britain’s North American colonies. Our modern word dollar is a different spelling of this daler. When the newly independent American colonies settled on an official monetary unit in 1785, they chose the name dollar.

Synonyms

• bone [slang]
• buck
• clam
• one
• smacker [slang]

Examples of dollar in a Sentence

She had to pay hundreds of dollars in auto repairs.

She put a wrinkled dollar down on the counter.

The dollar dropped sharply against the pound.

the strength of the dollar

The dollar is worth more in Mexico.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adams was accused of taking thousands of dollars worth of benefits starting in around 2014, including first-class flights and hotel stays all over the world, from foreign benefactors with ties to the Turkish government who sought to one day cash in on their relationship. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025

Potential changes to how the National Institutes of Health funds medical research could sap hundreds of millions of dollars from the Triangle's economy, prompting widespread concern from leaders in the area. —Zachery Eanes, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025

As questions hang over U.S. aid for Ukraine, a new lend-lease deal could give Kyiv weapons without drawing on American taxpayer dollars. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

The Treasury payment system sends out trillions of dollars in tax refunds, Social Security checks and other federal funds. —Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dutch or Low German daler, from German Taler, short for Joachimstaler, from Sankt Joachimsthal, Bohemia, where talers were first made

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dollar

• bang for one's dollar
• bang for the dollar
• dollar-a-year
• dollar cost averaging
• dollar day
• dollar diplomacy
• dollar sign
• dollar signs in one's eyes
• dollar store
• East Caribbean dollar
• half-dollar
• Maria Theresa dollar
• non-dollar
• sand dollar
• see dollar signs
• silver dollar
• silver dollar plant
• Straits dollar
• the dollar
• top dollar
• trade dollar

Kids Definition

dollar

noun

dol·​lar ˈdäl-ər 

1

: a coin (as a Spanish peso) similar to an earlier German silver coin

2

a

: a basic unit of money (as of the U.S. and Canada)

b

: a coin or bill representing one dollar

Etymology

from Dutch daler "silver coin formerly used in Germany," from German Taler (same meaning), shortened from Joachimstaler "a coin made in Sankt Joachimsthal (Saint Joachim's Valley) in Bohemia (a former kingdom in Europe)"