money-market
UK[ˈmʌni ˌmɑːkɪt]US[ˈmʌni ˌmɑːrkɪt]
n
A market for short-term borrowing and lending, dealing in instruments such as treasury bills and commercial paper.
n
Relating to or involved in such a market.
Morpheme Breakdown
money
market
money
medium of exchange
market
trading arena
Etymology
The compound term 'money-market' is a modern financial construct, combining two ancient concepts of commerce. 'Money' originates from the Latin Moneta, an epithet for the goddess Juno in whose temple Roman coinage was minted, solidifying its link to official currency. 'Market' derives from the Latin mercatus, meaning a place of trade or buying and selling, rooted in the verb mercari (to trade). The fusion of these terms in the early 19th century created a precise label for the specialized financial arena where short-term, highly liquid debt instruments are traded, directly reflecting its function as a marketplace for money itself.
Analysis
Structure: money (medium of exchange) + market (trading arena)
- money: From Latin moneta (mint, coinage, money), via Anglo-Norman moneie. Functions as a noun modifier specifying the type of commodity or instrument.
- market: From Latin mercatus (trade, market), via Old North French market. Functions as the head noun indicating the system or place of exchange.
Examples
The company invests its surplus cash in the money-market for better short-term returns.
Money-market funds are considered a relatively low-risk investment option.
Central bank operations directly influence liquidity in the money-market.