monetize

/ˌmɑnəˈtaɪz/

Other forms: monetizing; monetized

To monetize is to make money. If you write a popular blog, figure out how to monetize it so you don’t work for free. To monetize also means to establish a country's legal tender, as in to literally make money.

The word money hides in monetize because it’s all about money. Establishing a new currency, or printing money, is what happens when a country monetizes, like when the European Union decided to monetize the Euro as its new currency. This verb is sometimes used to mean "exchange for money.” These days, monetize often refers to figuring out a way to make money from a website or app.

Definitions of monetize

1. verb

   convert an economy or society from a barter system to one based on the exchange of money
   type of:

   change over, convert

   change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
2. verb

   use something as a source of income or profit
   type of:

   profit, turn a profit

   make a profit; gain money or materially
3. verb

   give legal value to or establish as the legal tender of a country
   “They monetized the lira”

   synonyms: monetise

   type of:

   decriminalise, decriminalize, legalise, legalize, legitimate, legitimatise, legitimatize, legitimise, legitimize

   make legal