peso
noun
pe·so ˈpā-(ˌ)sō 
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The central bank has spent billions of dollars to stabilize the peso as investors take money out of the country. 
Patricia Garip And Juan Forero, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 But many Argentines believe cryptocurrencies will rebound — unlike the peso. New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Inflation, meanwhile, is running at nearly 30% thanks to a devaluation of the peso and rising costs for fuel and other imports. Stephen Wicary, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2022 The Philippine peso also plunged 12% over the same period. Forbes Press Releases, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The peso strengthened slightly in the financial market, seen as an important metric on confidence considering the government keeps a tight grip on the official exchange rate. Almudena Calatrava, ajc, 4 Aug. 2022 Investors are betting the U.S. dollar’s prolonged rise will hurt currencies ranging from the Hungarian forint to the Philippine peso, with the forint and the Polish zloty hitting fresh lows recently. Julia-ambra Verlaine, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Now, many Argentines are turning to cryptocurrencies as one way to escape the peso. New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 All investors Capistran and Gonzalez Rojas talked to liked the peso and many seem to still be looking at opportunities to buy the currency. Carolina Gonzalez, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2022 See More
Patricia Garip And Juan Forero, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 But many Argentines believe cryptocurrencies will rebound — unlike the peso. New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Inflation, meanwhile, is running at nearly 30% thanks to a devaluation of the peso and rising costs for fuel and other imports. Stephen Wicary, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2022 The Philippine peso also plunged 12% over the same period. Forbes Press Releases, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The peso strengthened slightly in the financial market, seen as an important metric on confidence considering the government keeps a tight grip on the official exchange rate. Almudena Calatrava, ajc, 4 Aug. 2022 Investors are betting the U.S. dollar’s prolonged rise will hurt currencies ranging from the Hungarian forint to the Philippine peso, with the forint and the Polish zloty hitting fresh lows recently. Julia-ambra Verlaine, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Now, many Argentines are turning to cryptocurrencies as one way to escape the peso. New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 All investors Capistran and Gonzalez Rojas talked to liked the peso and many seem to still be looking at opportunities to buy the currency. Carolina Gonzalez, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish, literally, weight, from Latin pensum — more at poise
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
peso
noun
pe·so ˈpā-sō
plural pesos
1
: a bill or coin used in one of several Spanish-speaking countries of North and South America
2
: a bill or coin used in the Philippines