peso
Americannoun
plural
pesos-
a coin and monetary unit of Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, and the Philippines, equal to 100 centavos.
-
a coin and monetary unit of Uruguay, equal to 100 centesimos.
-
a former monetary unit of Argentina, equal to 100 centavos: replaced by the austral in 1985.
-
a former silver coin of Spain and Spanish America, equal to eight reals; dollar; piece of eight; piaster.
noun
-
the standard monetary unit, comprising 100 centavos, of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Philippines; formerly also of Guinea-Bissau, where it was replaced by the CFA franc
-
the standard monetary unit of Uruguay, divided into 100 centesimos
-
another name for piece of eight
Etymology
Origin of peso
< Spanish: literally, weight < Latin pēnsum something weighed, noun use of neuter of pēnsus, past participle of pendere to weigh
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He shrank ministries, lifted price controls and widened the peso’s trading bands, cooling triple-digit inflation and stabilizing markets.
The beleaguered peso has gained 5% against the dollar this year while Milei’s government widened the trading bands and added reserves.
From Barron's
The probe into the alleged misuse of billions in public funds has roiled the Southeast Asian economy since it came to light in late July, weighing on the peso and market sentiment.
“I could never buy one of those on my salary of 4,000 pesos a month,” he said.
From Salon
Even if she wanted to, her job at the Department of Agriculture—which pays 4,000 pesos a month, or less than $10—has been frozen until further notice.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
