Money vs. Moneys – Which is Correct?

While “money” is the universally recognized general term for currency, “moneys” is also a correct, though less common, plural form used specifically to refer to distinct sums, funds, or financial assets, often in legal or formal contexts. Understanding this nuance ensures precise communication regarding financial matters.

Money or Moneys – Which is Correct?

Both “money” and “moneys” are correct words in American English, but they serve different grammatical functions and carry distinct connotations. “Money” is predominantly used as a singular, uncountable noun referring to currency in general, a medium of exchange, or wealth. “Moneys,” on the other hand, is a plural, countable noun used to denote specific, distinct sums of money, separate funds, or various financial assets. Its usage is more formal, legal, or administrative, distinguishing individual pools of capital rather than the concept of wealth itself.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Money	Noun (uncountable)	Currency, wealth, or a medium of exchange in general.	He doesn’t have much money, but he’s rich in spirit.
Moneys	Noun (plural, countable)	Specific sums of money, funds, or financial assets (often in a legal or formal context).	The trust fund holds several separate moneys for the beneficiaries.

How to Use Money

“Money” is typically used as a singular, uncountable noun, referring to the general concept of currency, economic value, or wealth. It functions as a mass noun, meaning it does not usually take a plural form itself when referring to the general concept. It’s used broadly in everyday conversation and writing to discuss financial resources, spending, saving, or earning.

Example 1: Learning how to manage your money effectively is a crucial life skill.

Example 2: The government printed more money to stimulate the economy.

Example 3: Do you have enough money to buy that new car?

What are the different forms of Money?

As an uncountable noun, “money” does not have a standard plural form in the same way “book” becomes “books.” When we want to refer to specific amounts or types of currency, we use quantifying phrases or other nouns. For instance, we say “amounts of money,” “sums of money,” or refer to specific denominations like “dollars” or “euros.” The word “moneys” serves as a specific, formal plural, but it refers to distinct sums rather than multiple units of the general concept of “money.”

Etymology of the word Money

The word “money” comes from the Old French moneie, meaning “coin, currency, change,” which in turn derived from the Latin moneta. Moneta was originally a surname of the Roman goddess Juno, in whose temple on the Capitoline hill coins were minted. This temple was known as Juno Moneta, meaning “Juno the Warner” or “Juno the Adviser,” because of the geese whose cackling warned of a Gallic attack in 390 BC. The minting of coins there led to the word becoming associated with currency.

How to Use Moneys

“Moneys” is a plural, countable noun used in specific, often formal or legal, contexts to refer to distinct sums of money, separate funds, or various financial assets held for particular purposes. It emphasizes the individuality or segregation of different pools of capital, rather than the general concept of money. You’ll frequently encounter “moneys” in legal documents, financial reports, or administrative language when discussing appropriations, trust funds, or specific budgetary allocations.

Example 1: The court ordered that all stolen moneys be returned to the victims.

Example 2: The charity manages several restricted moneys designated for specific humanitarian projects.

Example 3: The auditor reviewed the various moneys held in the company’s escrow accounts.

What are the different forms of Moneys?

“Moneys” is already a plural form, used specifically to denote multiple, distinct sums or funds. It does not have further variations in tense or singular/plural forms in its specific usage. The singular concept it relates to would typically be “a sum of money” or “a fund.” Its primary function is to pluralize the idea of “a sum of money” into “multiple sums of money” or “various funds.”

Etymology of the word Moneys

The etymology of “moneys” directly parallels that of “money,” stemming from the same Latin root moneta. The plural form “moneys” developed in English to address the need for a term to describe individual, countable sums of money, particularly in legal and financial discourse. While “money” itself remained largely an uncountable mass noun, “moneys” emerged as its specific, countable plural to distinguish between general wealth and discrete financial allocations.

Related Concepts

The distinction between “money” and “moneys” is best understood through the grammatical concept of Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns (also known as Mass Nouns). Uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted individually, like “water,” “information,” or “advice.” They typically do not have a plural form and are used with singular verbs. “Money” falls into this category when referring to currency in general. Countable nouns, on the other hand, refer to items that can be counted individually, like “books,” “chairs,” or “ideas.” They have both singular and plural forms. “Moneys” functions as a countable noun, referring to distinct, individual sums or funds, allowing it to be pluralized and counted.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “A fool and his money are soon parted.” – Common proverb
• “It’s a wonder that with all the money in the world, some people still choose to be unhappy.” – Fictional dialogue
• “The will specified that the testator’s remaining moneys be divided equally among his five grandchildren.” – Legal document excerpt
• “The bank announced that it would hold all customer moneys in separate, insured accounts.” – Financial news report
• “He had amassed a considerable amount of money through shrewd investments, but his various charitable moneys were managed by a separate foundation.” – Biography

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The national treasury manages all public __________.
2. It takes a lot of __________ to start a successful business.
3. The lawyer advised on the distribution of the deceased’s __________ to the heirs.
4. Can you lend me some __________ for lunch?
5. The various __________ collected from the donors were allocated to different relief efforts.

Answer Key

1. moneys
2. money
3. moneys
4. money
5. moneys

Money Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Currency	A system of money in general use in a particular country.
Cash	Money in coins or notes, as distinct from checks, credit cards, or electronic transfers.
Capital	Wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization.
Funds	A sum of money saved or made available for a particular purpose.
Wealth	An abundance of valuable possessions or money.

Moneys Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Funds	Sums of money saved or made available for a particular purpose.
Assets	Property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies.
Sums	Particular amounts of money.
Capital	Financial assets or the value of such assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “moneys” ever used in casual conversation?
No, “moneys” is rarely used in casual conversation. It typically appears in formal, legal, or financial contexts where precision about distinct sums of money is required. In everyday speech, people would usually say “sums of money” or “funds.”

Question 2: Can “money” ever be plural?
In its general sense, “money” is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form. However, “moneys” functions as a specific plural, referring to distinct or separate sums of money, rather than multiple units of the general concept of currency.

Question 3: When should I use “moneys” instead of “money”?
You should use “moneys” when you are referring to specific, identifiable, and often separate amounts or pools of money, especially in a legal, financial, or administrative context. For instance, “the various moneys held in escrow” or “the appropriated moneys for the project.” For general discussions of currency or wealth, “money” is always correct.

Conclusion

The choice between “money” and “moneys” hinges on whether you are referring to the general concept of currency and wealth (uncountable “money”) or to distinct, specific sums or funds (countable “moneys”). While “money” is the common and versatile term for everyday use, “moneys” serves a precise, formal function, particularly in legal and financial documentation. Understanding this subtle but important distinction allows for greater clarity and accuracy in your communication.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, “money” is usually the safer choice for general usage. Reserve “moneys” for situations where you specifically need to emphasize separate or multiple financial allocations, ensuring your language is as precise as your financial dealings.