What does coined mean?
'Coined' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'coin,' which carries two related senses. Its dominant modern use is figurative: to coin a word or phrase means to invent it, to be the first to put it into circulation. English speakers constantly reach for this verb when tracing the origins of language — new scientific terms, brand names, and slang are said to be coined by the people who create them. The older, literal sense is to manufacture money by stamping metal blanks with a die, a process once carried out at a mint. Both senses share a common thread of fabrication and official creation. The word carries no strong connotations of formality or informality and appears freely in journalism, scholarship, and everyday speech. It most often appears in the passive construction 'the term was coined by,' making it an essential verb for anyone writing about the history of ideas and language.
verb (past tense and past participle of 'coin')Past tense and past participle of 'coin': to invent a new word or expression, or to mint a piece of currency from metal.
- To invent a new word or expression.
- To mint or strike a piece of metal currency.
"Shakespeare coined hundreds of words that are still in everyday use."
"The marketing team coined a catchy name for their new product line."
"The royal mint coined thousands of silver pennies that year."
Every time you say 'eyeball' or 'bedroom,' you're quoting Shakespeare — words he likely coined over 400 years ago.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coined
The verb 'coin' derives from the noun 'coin,' which entered Middle English from Old French 'coing' (a piece stamped with a die), ultimately from Latin 'cuneus,' meaning 'wedge.' The early minting process involved wedges of metal that were then stamped, which explains the connection. English cognates from the same Latin root include 'quoin' (an architectural cornerstone) and 'cuneiform' (the wedge-shaped script of ancient Mesopotamia). The figurative sense of inventing words developed naturally from the idea of stamping something into fresh existence, becoming well established by the early seventeenth century.
Related word forms
How coined is actually used
Almost always used in the passive sense when referring to words: 'the term was coined by...' The currency sense is now largely historical or technical, confined to discussions of mints and numismatics.
Easily confused with coined
'Corned' means preserved with salt (as in corned beef), while 'coined' means invented a word or minted currency.
'Cooed' means made a soft murmuring sound, as a dove or an adoring person, whereas 'coined' refers to inventing words or minting money.