1
a
: a former monetary unit of the United Kingdom equal to 12 pence or ¹/₂₀ pound
b
: a former monetary unit equal to ¹/₂₀ pound of any of various countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations
2
: a coin representing one shilling
3
: any of several early American coins
4
the basic monetary unit of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda see Money Table
Examples of shilling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, if a digital shilling and a regulated euro token are both in circulation, payments providers could automate FX conversion while remaining compliant across both jurisdictions.
—
Elizabeth Rossiello, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Every Ethiopian birr or Kenyan shilling spent servicing debt is money that is not available to build clinics or train teachers.
—Mark Suzman, Foreign Affairs, 11 July 2024
Businessman Chol Jook recorded monthly sales of 700,000 Kenyan shillings — about $5,400 — from the World Food Program cash transfer program and now faces losses.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Back in 1966, the currency used in the United Kingdom was the pre-decimal ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and things cost a lot less money back then.
—Will Jeanes, The Athletic, 13 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for shilling
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Elizabeth Rossiello, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Every Ethiopian birr or Kenyan shilling spent servicing debt is money that is not available to build clinics or train teachers.
—Mark Suzman, Foreign Affairs, 11 July 2024
Businessman Chol Jook recorded monthly sales of 700,000 Kenyan shillings — about $5,400 — from the World Food Program cash transfer program and now faces losses.
—Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Back in 1966, the currency used in the United Kingdom was the pre-decimal ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and things cost a lot less money back then.
—Will Jeanes, The Athletic, 13 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for shilling
Cite this Entry
“Shilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shilling. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shilling
noun
shil·ling
ˈshil-iŋ 
1
: a former unit of British money equal to ¹⁄₂₀ pound
2
: a coin equal to ¹⁄₂₀ pound in any of several countries of the Commonwealth of Nations
3
: any of several early American coins
4
a
: the basic unit of money of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda
b
: a coin representing this unit
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