sterling
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the official money used in the United Kingdom.
n.the currency of the United Kingdom, specifically referring to the pound sterling.
Simple“The price of the car was ten thousand pounds sterling.”
In context“Investors watched the value of sterling closely as the central bank prepared to announce its latest decision on interest rates.”
UsageOften used in formal financial contexts or to distinguish the British pound from other currencies named 'pound'.
SynonymsGBPbritish pound - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.used to describe someone's work or character when it is excellent and reliable.
adj.of excellent or superior quality; having proven worth or reliability.
Simple“The teacher praised the student for her sterling performance on the final exam.”
In context“The retiring CEO was celebrated for his sterling reputation and his unwavering commitment to ethical business practices over three decades.”
Teacher's tipThis is a high-level, formal compliment. It is most commonly paired with nouns like 'reputation', 'service', 'work', or 'character'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a high-quality type of silver used for jewelry and expensive spoons or forks.
n.an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper.
Simple“She inherited a beautiful set of sterling spoons from her grandmother.”
In context“The artisan hallmarked the tray to certify that it was genuine sterling rather than silver-plated base metal.”
UsageCommonly functions as a noun adjunct in the phrase 'sterling silver'.
Synonymssterling silver
“Over $219bn (£162bn) of debt has already been issued this year by the US "hyperscalers" such as Google, Amazon and Meta, nearly a third of it in currencies other than the dollar, including sterling.”