loonie

Everyday

1. (Canada, informal) A Canadian one-dollar coin, which has a loon (a water bird) on it. tree →
2. The Canadian dollar as money (the loonie went up). tree →
3. (UK, Australia, informal, often spelled looney or loony) A crazy or silly person — this can be rude. tree →

In the lessons

In Canada: kids pay with loonies and toonies (two-dollar coins). In maths money problems from Canada: 1 loonie = 1 dollar, 1 toonie = 2 dollars. Phrases: a loonie, loonies and toonies.

Examples

• I paid for my juice with a loonie. tree →
• A loonie is a one-dollar coin in Canada. tree →
• Three loonies and one toonie make five dollars. tree →
• The loonie has a picture of a bird called a loon. tree →
• She found a loonie under the sofa. tree →
• Don't be such a loony! (UK, informal, can be rude) tree →

Note

Canadian informal word, but used everywhere in Canada, even in news. Plural loonies. For numbers: loonie = 1 dollar, toonie = 2 dollars. The "crazy person" word (loony, looney) can hurt people with mental illness, so avoid it.