naira

noun

nai·​ra ˈnī-rə How to pronounce naira (audio)
plural nairas or naira
: the basic monetary unit of Nigeria see Money Table

Examples of naira in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each bride was to receive 200,000 naira ($145) as a dowry and to provide startup capital for a small business. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 Victims’ families and friends collectively paid more than two and a half billion naira, or about one and a half million dollars, to kidnappers during that time—double the figure from the year before. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Its move to sell in dollars could increase local demand for the US currency, weakening the naira and driving up inflation, which has risen in recent months. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 Nigeria’s benchmark stocks gauge is trading at a record, surpassing the 100 trillion-naira ($72 billion) mark in early February for the first time as difficult reforms are starting to bear fruit, boosting sentiment. — Emele Onu, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for naira

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Nigeria

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of naira was in 1972

Rhymes for naira

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Browse Nearby Words

Nair
naira
Nairn
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naira.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naira. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on naira

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about naira

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