# coin

/ˈkɔɪn/ (US) · /kˈɔɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coin
Updated: 2026-07-19

## Senses

### 1. metal money

noun · CEFR A1

a small, flat, round piece of metal used as money.

For teachers: a piece of metallic currency, typically disc-shaped, issued by a government authority.

- He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of silver coins.
- The archaeologist discovered a hoard of Roman coins buried beneath the floorboards of the ancient villa.

### 2. money in general

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for money or wealth.

For teachers: a collective term for money or financial gain. Informal or slang in register.

- That new tech job pays some serious coin.
- The developers made a significant amount of coin after their mobile application went viral globally.

### 3. cryptocurrency

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a type of digital money, like Bitcoin.

For teachers: a specific unit or variety of cryptocurrency. Often used as an ellipsis for 'cryptocoin'.

- He invested in a new coin that he found on a social media forum.
- Market volatility caused the value of the alternative coin to drop by thirty percent in a single afternoon.

### 5. to invent a word

verb · CEFR B2

to invent a new word or phrase that people start using.

For teachers: to invent or devise a new linguistic expression. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The scientist had to coin a new term to describe her discovery.
- The author is credited with coining several phrases that have since become staples of the English language.

### 6. to make metal money

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to make pieces of metal money in a factory.

For teachers: to manufacture coins from metal; to mint currency.

- The government began to coin more silver to keep up with demand.
- During the crisis, the central bank was authorised to coin emergency currency to stabilise the local economy.

## Examples

- I found a gold coin on the sidewalk today.
- The vending machine only accepts exact change, so I need to find a one-dollar coin.
- Archaeologists often use the minting dates on a coin found at an excavation site to establish a chronological baseline for the surrounding artifacts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.