Denomination
dih-nom-ih-NAY-shun
/dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/
A class or unit of value in a system of currency.
Refers to the specific value printed on a banknote or coin (e.g., a $20 bill, a 5-euro coin).
The story behind the word. The word 'denomination' comes from the Latin 'denominare,' meaning 'to name down' or 'to name precisely.' It's about giving a specific name or value to something. In the context of money, it's the 'name' or 'value' printed on a bill or coin, like a 'ten-dollar denomination.'
Word relationships
- unit: More general term, can refer to any single item or amount.
- value: Refers to the worth itself, not the specific printed class.
Word family
- denominate (verb): to give a name or designation to; to specify the unit of value.
Collocations
- small denomination
- large denomination
- various denominations
- currency denomination
Example sentences
- "The ATM only dispensed bills in $20 and $50 denominations, so I couldn't get a smaller change." Handling cash transactions.
- "Collectors often seek rare coins of various denominations, from pennies to large silver dollars." Discussing coin collecting.
Memory hook
DENOMINATION is like giving a 'NAME' (nomen) to a specific value of money, like a $5 bill is 'named' a five-dollar denomination. Name value
When not to use
Do not use 'denomination' to refer to the currency system itself; 'currency' is the correct term.
Fun facts
- Some countries have very high denominations (e.g., 100,000,000,000,000 Zimbabwean dollars) due to hyperinflation.
Related words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.