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DictionarypesoMonetary unit
noun

peso

PAY-soh/ˈpeɪsəʊ/

A basic unit of money in several Spanish-speaking countries and the Philippines.

The display shows both faces of a Mexican peso.

A close view of a Mexican one-peso coin, showing both faces through two examples of the same denomination.
Etymology
pesoSpanishweight; coin

Spanish peso literally meant “a weight” and also named a coin, the Spanish dollar. That coin-name survives as the name of monetary units in Mexico and several other countries.

In context

Gustavus Adolphus College20:02
the 1994 peso crisis in mexico led to a decline of real wages in a very big way
Globalization and Appropriate Governance | Jagdish Bhagwati

More examples

  • He found a one-peso coin beneath the seat.
  • Prices were displayed in Mexican pesos.
  • The exchange booth converted her dollars into pesos.

Forms

peso · pesos

Similar words

dollar
Dollar names a different set of monetary units; the issuing country determines either unit's value.
currency
Currency is a general money system; peso names a unit used in several systems.