devaluation

American  

[dee-val-yoo-ey-shuhn] / diˌvæl yuˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an official lowering of the exchange value of a country's currency relative to gold or other currencies.

2. a reduction of a value, status, etc.

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devaluation Cultural  

1. A policy undertaken by a nation to reduce the value of its national currency either in relation to gold or in relation to the currencies of other nations.

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Other Word Forms

• minidevaluation noun
• postdevaluation adjective
• predevaluation noun

Etymology

Origin of devaluation

First recorded in 1910–15; devaluate + -ion

Example Sentences

The devaluation of that nuance is worse than the loss of any award.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

In an address this week, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah acknowledged that the devaluation had once again "put the burden on citizens".

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Wu-Tang Clan envisioned the unique album and its secrecy as a form of protest against the devaluation of music in the era of streaming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Protests erupted in Iran last Sunday over inflation and currency devaluation, after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

While privatization of state-owned enterprises had not   occurred by the end of 2002, the government had successfully avoided   a currency devaluation and debt default in 2002.

From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• decline
• decrease
• reduction
• weakening