verb · 4 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.
UK:/diːˈmʌnətaɪz/
UK, Ireland, Northern-England:/diːˈmʊnətaɪz/
General-American:/diˈmɑnətaɪz/
General-American:/diˈmɑnɪtaɪz/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To withdraw the status of legal tender from a coin (etc.) and remove it from circulation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To declare ineligible or worthless as a medium of exchange or as legal tender.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
1943 Post Office Department, U.S., A Description of United States Postage Stamps Issued by the Post Office Department from July 1, 1847, to April 1, 1945 [sic]. Washington: United States Government Printing Office; p4: Stamps of 1847 and 1851 Demonetized These stamps are obsolete and worthless for postage. A reasonable time after hostilities began in 1861 was given for the exchange of stamps in the hands of the public and for the replacement of post office stocks. Their acceptance in the prepayment of postage was ordered discontinued in the several States and Territories, [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To demote (published content, or its creator) so that it is no longer eligible to earn money for its publisher.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Internet, transitive
Examples
The site has the ability to demonetize a video.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
deprive of value for payment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
demonetize a coin
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: demonetise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: devalue, devaluate
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- English monetize English demonetize From de- + monetize.
Across languages
Translations
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
poistaa liikkeestä
— to withdraw status of legal tender from
Finnish:
poistaa rahallinen arvo
— to withdraw status of legal tender from
Finnish:
demonetisoida
— to withdraw status of legal tender from
Ido:
desmonetigar
— to withdraw status of legal tender from
Finnish:
julistaa arvottomaksi
— to declare ineligible or worthless as a medium of exchange or as legal tender
Catalan:
desmonetitzar
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Finnish:
poistaa kaupallistaminen käytöstä
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
French:
démonétiser
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Galician:
desmonetizar
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
German:
demonetarisieren
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
German:
entmonetarisieren
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Italian:
demonetizzare
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Polish:
wycofywać z obiegu
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Polish:
wycofać z obiegu
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Portuguese:
desmonetizar
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Russian:
демонетизировать
(demonetizirovatʹ)
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
Spanish:
desmonetizar
— internet: to demote so that it is no longer eligible to earn money
