What does sterling mean?
Sterling is chiefly used as an adjective for something exceptionally good, reliable, or respected, as in “a sterling reputation” or “a sterling example.” Its force is stronger than that of merely “good,” suggesting a standard of excellence that has been demonstrated rather than merely claimed. As a noun, sterling denotes a refined silver alloy containing at least 92.5 percent silver, best known in the expression “sterling silver.” The word also has an older monetary sense, referring to the British pound sterling and to historic English silver coins. Today, both the evaluative adjective and the material noun are recognized in British and American English, although the adjective is much more common in everyday use. The word’s history connects quality and money: coins bearing star-like designs gave sterling silver and the currency their name, while the modern adjective conveys the idea of purity, solidity, and excellence.
Excellent, outstanding, or of exceptionally high quality and reliability.
"The club has maintained a sterling record since its founding."
Formal and strongly positive; commonly used before “reputation,” “record,” “example,” and “effort.”
A silver alloy containing at least 92.5 percent silver; also, historically, a silver coin or the British pound sterling.
"The antique spoon is made of sterling."
Modern usage usually means sterling silver; plural sterlings is uncommon and chiefly historical.
Usually uncountable in modern usage for the silver alloy; the plural is uncommon and generally refers to historic sterling coins or units of currency.
"The museum’s collection includes silver sterlings from the medieval period."
Sterling began with a little star: the earliest English silver pennies bore star-like marks, leading to the word’s name and its long association with trusted money.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sterling come from?
Sterling comes from Old English steorra, meaning “star,” with the diminutive suffix -ling. Early silver pennies marked with small stars gave these coins the name sterling, and the term also came to denote sterling silver and the English pound. The adjective meaning “of excellent quality” developed from the monetary sense by association with the reliability and purity of the coinage.
Related word forms
How sterling is actually used
The adjective is formal but widely used, especially before nouns such as “reputation,” “example,” and “record.” In the noun sense, “sterling” usually appears as “sterling silver”; the plural “sterlings” is uncommon and is associated chiefly with historic coins or units of money.
Easily confused with sterling
Sterling means excellent or high-quality, whereas stellar means outstandingly good or exceptionally successful and is also associated with stars.