dollar

Dollar is the name of a currency unit used in several countries, most prominently the United States dollar (USD). The term comes from the thaler, a silver coin used in parts of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, and was adopted for American money in the 18th century. Today, the word dollar can refer to any of several dollar-denominated currencies, and the symbol $ is widely recognized around the world.

In the United States, the dollar is the official currency. It is issued by the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. dollar serves as the world’s primary reserve currency and is commonly used in international trade and finance, in addition to domestic transactions. Since the 1971 end of the Bretton Woods system, the dollar has operated as a fiat currency and remains a central reference in global currency markets.

Other currencies named dollar include the Canadian dollar (CAD), Australian dollar (AUD), New Zealand dollar (NZD), Singapore dollar (SGD), Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and Taiwan dollar (TWD). They are distinct legal tender with their own issuers and monetary policies, and they generally use decimal subdivision, typically 100 cents per dollar. The symbol $ is used in several of these currencies, sometimes with country-specific prefixes or codes.

Most dollar currencies are issued by central banks and are used in everyday transactions through banknotes and coins. While designs and denominations vary, many dollars share common features such as broad circulation, price stability targets, and integration into national financial systems. In international markets, the U.S. dollar often serves as a benchmark for pricing commodities and evaluating other currencies.