peso

noun

pe·​so ˈpā-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce peso (audio)
ˈpe-
plural pesos
1
: an old silver coin of Spain and Spanish America equal to eight reales
2
the basic monetary unit of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Philippines, and Uruguay see Money Table

Examples of peso 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.
There was a time not too long ago when Martinez would spend entire days under a bridge performing his songs for passersby, bringing home 100 pesos (or about $5) home to his family. — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025 In some cases, women must buy the medication themselves, which can cost around 170,000 Argentine pesos for both drugs (roughly $160, according to the official exchange rate) or 100,000 pesos for misoprostol alone ($90). — Anita Pouchard Serra & Natalie Alcoba, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025 The new tariffs also compound challenges for many art professionals due to weak foreign exchange rates for Canadian dollars and Mexican pesos. — Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 5 Mar. 2025 The Mexican peso weakened Tuesday morning, trading down around 1% against the dollar. — Kylie Madry and Brendan O'Boyle, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for peso

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, weight, from Latin pensum — more at poise

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peso was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

peso
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Cite this Entry

“Peso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peso. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

peso

noun
pe·​so ˈpā-sō How to pronounce peso (audio)
plural pesos
1
: an old silver coin of Spain or Spanish America
2
a
: the basic unit of money of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Philippines, and Uruguay
b
: a coin or bill representing one peso

More from Merriam-Webster on peso

Nglish: Translation of peso for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peso

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