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Although yen suggests no more than a strong desire these days (as in “a yen for a beach vacation”), at one time someone with a yen was in deep trouble: the first meaning of yen, used in the late 19th century, was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning “opium,” and yáhn, “craving,” in the Chinese language used in the province of Guangdong. In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen, and eventually shortened to yen.
Synonyms of yen
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Noun (2)
Verb
Examples of yen in a Sentence
Noun (2)
I have a strange yen to take the day off from work
Verb
A car lover who predictably yens for the latest and greatest new models.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 1 May 2026
In 1991, Duffy represented a Mercantile Exchange member accused of fraud involving the trading of yen futures, which stemmed from one of the largest and costliest undercover operations the FBI had undertaken.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Before investing millions more yen in robotic experiments, the next policy response might be to meaningfully lift wages as part of a broader effort to restore dignity and status to the work itself.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
According to existing policies, adopted in December 2022, Japan aims to double its defense spending to 2% of the country’s gross domestic product — an amount of about 43 trillion yen ($270 billion) — through 2027.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
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Noun
On Thursday, Reuters reported that Japanese officials had stepped in to prop up the faltering yen by buying the currency, citing anonymous sources.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 1 May 2026
In 1991, Duffy represented a Mercantile Exchange member accused of fraud involving the trading of yen futures, which stemmed from one of the largest and costliest undercover operations the FBI had undertaken.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Before investing millions more yen in robotic experiments, the next policy response might be to meaningfully lift wages as part of a broader effort to restore dignity and status to the work itself.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
According to existing policies, adopted in December 2022, Japan aims to double its defense spending to 2% of the country’s gross domestic product — an amount of about 43 trillion yen ($270 billion) — through 2027.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yen
Cite this Entry
“Yen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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