any medium of exchange that can be passed in ordinary commerce, as currency
circulating medium in American English
noun
1.
any coin or note passing, without endorsement, as a medium of exchange
2.
such coins or notes collectively
Word origin
[1790–1800]This word is first recorded in the period 1790–1800. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backhanded, cannibalism, idealism, methodology, silhouette