Phrase guide

coin of the realm

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɔɪn əv ðə ˈɹɛlm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛlm

1

noun

Meaning 1

The legal money of a country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: legal tender

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something that is valued like money within a particular context.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The term originally referred to actual coins issued by authority of the British monarch for use within the kingdom or realm: see, for example, the 18th-century quotations.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: raha — something valued like money within a particular context
  • French: monnaie d'échange — something valued like money within a particular context