# ECU

/ˈɛkuː/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ecu
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

Stands for European Currency Unit. A type of money used by European countries to measure value before they started using the Euro in 1999.

For teachers: Abbreviation for European Currency Unit. A basket of European Community member state currencies that served as the unit of account for the European Monetary System before being replaced by the Euro.

## Examples

- The ECU was used for accounting before the Euro existed.
- Before the physical adoption of the Euro, international contracts often specified payments in ECU to maintain stability across different European borders.
- The transition from the ECU to the Euro at a one-to-one ratio marked the final phase of the economic and monetary union, effectively ending the era of the basket-currency system.

## Usage notes

- Primarily used in historical or financial contexts regarding the European Union's economic history.

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