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fungibility

fungibility

1 9.6
A quality that lets you exchange one item for another of the same kind, especially money or goods
  • noun
  • /ˈfʌndʒəˌbɪlɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fungibilidad
  • Because of the fungibility of currency, it is simple to change dollars into euros when traveling.

Examples

  • And then there is the larger problem of the fungibility of money.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The fungibility of oil makes the geographical location argument moot.

    Blog text (28)
  • Defending a claim of conversion can be especially difficult because of the fungibility of art.

    Academic text (2006)
  • More production adds fungibility to the world market, but we're still vulnerable to shocks in other countries.

    Blog text (29)
  • When the hydrocarbon supply grows in one locale, there is bound to be an impact elsewhere, given the fungibility of fossil fuels.

    Blog text (18)
  • Finally, proponents argued that the fungibility of federal funds creates an appearance that the nonprofit is a larger player in the political arena than it really is, thereby overestimating its popular support.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Given oil's fungibility and the integrated nature of world oil markets, a severe interruption in Saudi Arabia is likely to have virtually the same price impact whether or not America imports Saudi oil.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In finance, the fungibility of cash allows it to be easily exchanged for goods and services.

  • The fungibility of stocks means that each share can be traded for any other share of the same company.

Synonyms

exchangeability
vsfungibility
1 7.5

Can be replaced by something with the same value or use

is more focused on items of the same kind, especially goods or assets
interchangeability
vsfungibility
1 7.4

The ability of one thing to be replaced by another without losing use or value

is specifically about goods or assets being swapped among same kind items
interchangeableness
vsfungibility
8.4

The fact that one thing can be used in place of another

is used mainly for goods or assets that can be swapped among identical items
commutability
vsfungibility
9.4

A quality that lets one thing be replaced by another

is about goods or assets that can be swapped among identical items

How Exchangeable

fungibility
  • Specialized
1 9.6

Surface Forms

fungibility singular
fungibilities plural

Morphology

fungibility = fungible (opaque) = fungible + ity

Formation from the adjective is regular (-ity), but 'fungible' is a low-frequency technical word derived from a non-transparent root and unlikely to be analysable by average learners.

Etymology

The word fungibility comes from a Latin root fung- meaning 'to do' or 'to pay', and you can see the same root in function. So if something has fungibility, it can 'do the same job' as another item of the same kind and be easily exchanged.