1
: any of various former basic monetary units (as in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg)
2
the basic monetary unit of Switzerland and a number of especially sub-Saharan nations in Africa see Money Table

Examples of franc in a Sentence

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.
The strong Swiss franc poses ongoing challenges to export competitiveness, further complicating the landscape for Swiss watchmakers. Garth Friesen, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 The event was eventually won by Slovenia’s Nika Prevc, who collected 4,300 Swiss francs ($4,700) in prize money. Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025 With French warships threatening invasion, France, in 1825, demanded a ransom of 150 million gold francs, later reduced to 90 million, to compensate white settlers and slave owners for lost profits in what was once France’s richest Caribbean colony. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025 The broker remains bullish on Richemont, lifting its 12-month price target to 147 Swiss francs from 140 Swiss francs, based on the third-quarter results. Samantha Conti, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for franc 

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of franc was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near franc

Cite this Entry

“Franc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/franc. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

franc

noun
1
: the former basic unit of money of France and Belgium
2
: a basic unit of money (as of Switzerland)
3
: a coin representing one franc

More from Merriam-Webster on franc

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!