dollar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “dollar” mean?
The basic monetary unit of the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, typically divided into 100 cents.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The basic monetary unit of the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, typically divided into 100 cents.
A unit of currency; more broadly, money or wealth in general. Also used to refer to the US dollar specifically as a global reserve currency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'dollar' refers to foreign currencies (US, Canadian, Australian, etc.). In the US, it is the domestic currency. The symbol '$' is used for dollars in both, but in the UK it may need clarification (e.g., US$, Can$).
Connotations
In the US, it has strong national and economic connotations. In the UK, it is a foreign currency, often associated with American economic influence.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in US English; high frequency in UK English due to global finance and trade.
Grammar
How to Use “dollar” in a Sentence
cost/be worth X dollarspay/earn X dollarsexchange/convert into dollarsthe dollar strengthens/weakens against the yenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dollar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company was dollarised to protect against local currency volatility.
- They tried to dollarise their savings.
American English
- He dollar-cost averaged into the investment fund.
- The contract was dollar-denominated.
adjective
British English
- The dollar-based index fell sharply.
- They offered a dollar-equivalent price.
American English
- She made a dollar-store run for party supplies.
- It was a ten-dollar haircut.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The dollar index rose 0.5% after the Fed announcement.
Academic
The study analysed the impact of a strengthening dollar on emerging market economies.
Everyday
This coffee costs five dollars.
Technical
The pair USD/JPY is trading at 150.25.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dollar”
- Using plural 'dollars' with singular quantifiers (e.g., 'It is ten dollar' instead of 'ten dollars').
- Confusing 'dollar' with other currency names when the symbol '$' is used without clarification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'dollar' is the name for the currency of several countries (e.g., Canada, Australia, New Zealand). Context usually specifies which one.
'Buck' is an informal synonym for a US or Australian dollar. It is casual and not used in formal financial contexts.
In American English, it is pronounced /ˈdɑː.lɚ/, with a longer 'a' sound and a flapped or silent 'r' depending on the region.
Yes, though less common. As a verb, it relates to converting into or pricing in dollars (e.g., 'dollarise', 'dollar-cost average').
The basic monetary unit of the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, typically divided into 100 cents.
Dollar is usually neutral to formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bet your bottom dollar”
- “feel like a million dollars”
- “the almighty dollar”
- “dollar for dollar”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DOLL + AR. Imagine a doll (DOLL) that is for sale, and you need an 'AR' (like 'are', meaning 'to exist') to pay for it with dollars.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIQUID (flow of dollars, frozen assets); MONEY IS A FORCE (strong dollar, weak dollar).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is an idiom meaning 'to be very certain'?