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.
Then in 2001, the convertibility system collapsed, and inflation collapsed and the peso took off, suggesting that dollarization treats a symptom of the disease, not the underlying cause. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 The Gilinski family announced a contribution of 150 billion pesos, about $48 million, to repair hospitals and schools in Cali, while other Colombian business leaders pledged more than 200 billion pesos, about $64 million. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026 The entrepreneur’s efforts secured him a place on the list of the Philippines’ 50 richest in a challenging year when a weaker peso took a toll on the total wealth of the country’s tycoons, which shrank 8% to $79 billion. — Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Some analysts drew parallels with Washington's support for Argentina's peso under President Javier Milei, when the country was battling currency instability ahead of key midterm elections. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 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

pesky
peso
peso boliviano
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Peso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peso. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peso

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