lira

American  

[leer-uh, lee-rah] / ˈlɪər ə, ˈli rɑ /

noun

plural

lire, liras

1. a coin and monetary unit of Italy until the euro was adopted, equal to 100 centesimi. L., Lit.

2. a monetary unit of Malta, San Marino, and the Vatican City until the euro was adopted.

3. a silver, bronze, or chrome steel coin and monetary unit of Turkey, equal to 100 kurus; equal to 100 piasters before 1933; Turkish pound. TL.

---

lira British  

/ ˈlɪərə, ˈliːra /

noun

1. the former standard monetary unit of Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican City, divided into 100 centesimi; replaced by the euro in 2002

2. Also called: pound.  the standard monetary unit of Turkey, divided into 100 kuruş

3. the former standard monetary unit of Malta, divided into 100 cents or 1000 mils; replaced by the euro in 2008

---

Etymology

Origin of lira

1610–20; < Italian < Old Provençal lieura < Latin lībra pound

Example Sentences

The U.S. dollar nevertheless hit a record high against the Turkish lira on Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

"We will provide support of up to the equivalent of 100,000 US dollars in Turkish lira per episode for our TV series" broadcast abroad, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told a news conference.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

The Turkish lira, meanwhile, has slumped to a new record low against the dollar this week, going for 31 lira for $1.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

“This is impunity. Our lives are worth only 27,300 lira — this is how I feel.”

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2024

I paid him when it was over and tipped him half a lira.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway