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.
Bechtel said the reversal in the peso trade could be due to short-term profit taking after the initial move. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 By 2012, models, politicians, and actors were shelling out 130,000 pesos (about $71 at the time) for a gram of 2C-B — over 10 times the price of cocaine. —Celia Ford, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024 Dollars aside, all tangible signs suggest the reign of peso banknotes is ending. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2024 These dynamic cultural institutions are great places to shop for handmade goods at budget-friendly prices or snag a filling meal for just a handful of pesos. —Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near peso

pesky

peso

peso boliviano

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Peso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peso. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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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 English: Translation of peso for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peso

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