Word
coinage
US/ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/
UK/kˈɔɪnɪdʒ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a new word or phrase that someone has recently invented. It can also mean the metal coins used as money in a country.
n. the invention of a new word or phrase; alternatively, the system of metal currency in use within a specific economy. Often refers to the first instance of a term being used in literature or speech.
Examples
“The word 'blog' is a relatively recent coinage.”
“Shakespeare is credited with the coinage of hundreds of English words that are still in common use today.”
“While some linguistic innovations are forgotten within weeks, a successful coinage fills a specific conceptual gap and eventually becomes indistinguishable from the established lexicon.”
Examples
simple
“The word 'blog' is a relatively recent coinage.”
contextual
“Shakespeare is credited with the coinage of hundreds of English words that are still in common use today.”
complex
“While some linguistic innovations are forgotten within weeks, a successful coinage fills a specific conceptual gap and eventually becomes indistinguishable from the established lexicon.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general system of coins; countable when referring to specific invented words.
Real-World Examples
“The sixpence was struck in 1834, during the steam-press era of British coinage.” “The idea of a £1 coin was considered as part of a review of the nation’s coinage, and at the end of 1979, The Royal Mint developed early trial pieces.” “I think the new design marries well with traditional coinage – and it shows coins are here to stay.”
So, pound coin as cultural saviour, national nostalgia booster and high security weapon against crime.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English coynage, from Old French coignage, from coignier. By surface analysis, coin + -age.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/coinage