devalue

verb

de·​val·​ue (ˌ)dē-ˈval-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce devalue (audio)
devalued; devaluing; devalues

transitive verb

1
: to institute the devaluation of (money)
2
: to lessen the value of

intransitive verb

: to institute devaluation

Examples of devalue in a Sentence

The government has decided to devalue its currency. Economic woes forced the government to devalue. He argues that placing too many requirements on schools devalues the education they provide.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a world where every moment must be productive, where caregiving is systematically devalued and where human relationships are subordinated to market logic, Miss Huang represents a future where childhood survives only as a date on a birth certificate. Anna Mae Duane, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025 In her Best Actress acceptance speech, Moore echoed her previous statements about devaluing women based on age — and specifically defended genre movies. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2025 Our national currency is devaluing and shrinking every day. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 For example, if an AI starts to take a human’s past work and replicate it somehow, that’s going to devalue what the human is still offering to the job market. John Werner, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for devalue

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of devalue was in 1918

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Devalue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devalue. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

devalue

transitive verb
de·​val·​ue (ˌ)dē-ˈval-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce devalue (audio)
devalued; devaluing
1
: to institute the devaluation of (money)
2
: to lessen the value of
devaluing assets

More from Merriam-Webster on devalue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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