Pound vs. Sterling — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
The pound is the currency unit, while sterling refers to the British currency system or its quality.
Difference Between Pound and Sterling
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The pound is a unit of currency in the U.K. Sterling denotes the British monetary system and sometimes refers to purity or quality.
Pound, often symbolized as £, is the basic currency unit. Sterling, in full, pound sterling, encompasses the whole currency system.
Pounds are used for everyday transactions. Sterling, as a term, often appears in financial and historical contexts.
Pound notes and coins are tangible currency. Sterling also signifies high-quality silver or admirable characteristics.
The pound fluctuates in value on currency markets. Sterling, as a system, reflects broader economic conditions.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Unit of currency in the U.K.
British currency system or quality reference
Symbol
Represented by £
Often used in the term "pound sterling"
Usage
Used in everyday financial transactions
Used in financial contexts or to denote quality
Tangibility
Refers to actual currency notes and coins
Can refer to intangible concepts or systems
Relation to Currency
The basic unit of currency
Encompasses the whole currency system
Compare with Definitions
Pound
The unit of currency in the United Kingdom.
She withdrew twenty pounds from the ATM.
Sterling
Currency used in the sterling area.
The company traded extensively in sterling.
Pound
To repeatedly strike with force.
He pounded the door loudly.
Sterling
High-quality silver or silverware.
She inherited a set of sterling silver cutlery.
Pound
Enclosed area for stray or lost animals.
The lost dog was found in the local pound.
Sterling
British money or the British monetary system.
Prices were listed in sterling.
Pound
A unit of weight equal to 16 ounces (453.592 grams).
Sterling
Of excellent quality or worth.
He has a sterling reputation in the community.
Pound
A unit of apothecary weight equal to 12 ounces (373.242 grams). See Table at measurement.
Sterling
Abbr. ster. or stg. British money, especially the pound as the basic unit of currency of the United Kingdom.
Pound
A unit of weight differing in various countries and times.
Sterling
British coinage of silver or gold, having as a standard of fineness 0.500 for silver and 0.91666 for gold.
Pound
See pound-force.
Sterling
Sterling silver.
Pound
See pound-mass.
Sterling
Articles, such as tableware, made of sterling silver.
Pound
The primary unit of currency in the United Kingdom, worth 20 shillings or 240 old pence before the decimalization of 1971. Also called pound sterling.
Sterling
Consisting of or relating to sterling or British money.
Pound
See Table at currency.
Sterling
Made of sterling silver
A sterling teaspoon.
Pound
The primary unit of currency in Ireland and Cyprus before the adoption of the euro.
Sterling
Of the highest quality
A person of sterling character.
Pound
A primary unit of currency in Scotland before the Act of Union (1707). Also called pound scots.
Sterling
The currency of the United Kingdom; especially the pound.
Pound
The pound key on a telephone.
Sterling
Former British gold or silver coinage of a standard fineness: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925.
Pound
A heavy blow.
Sterling
Sterling silver, or articles made from this material.
Pound
The sound of a heavy blow; a thump.
Sterling
A structure of pilings that protects the piers of a bridge; a starling.
Pound
The act of pounding.
Sterling
(not comparable) Of, or relating to British currency, or the former British coinage.
Pound
An animal shelter, especially one operated by a public agency to house stray or confiscated animals.
Sterling
(not comparable) Of, relating to, or made from sterling silver.
Pound
A public enclosure for the confinement of stray livestock.
Sterling
Of acknowledged worth or influence; high quality; authoritative.
Pound
A tank or submerged cage, as on a boat, in which live fish or shellfish are kept.
Sterling
Genuine; true; pure; of great value or excellence.
Pound
New England An establishment at which live lobsters are kept and sold, often also offering no-frills restaurant service.
Sterling
Same as Starling, 3.
Pound
A place in which vehicles impounded by the authorities are held until redeemed by their owners.
Sterling
Any English coin of standard value; coined money.
So that ye offer nobles or sterlings.
And Roman wealth in English sterling view.
Pound
(Archaic) A prison.
Sterling
A certain standard of quality or value for money.
Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign.
Pound
To strike repeatedly and forcefully, especially with the hand or a tool
Pounded the nail with a hammer.
Sterling
Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; - now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used.
Pound
To assault with military force
Pounded the bunker with mortars.
Sterling
Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.
Pound
To beat to a powder or pulp; pulverize or crush
Pound corn into meal.
Sterling
British money; especially the pound sterling as the basic monetary unit of the UK
Pound
To instill by persistent, emphatic repetition
Pounded knowledge into the students' heads.
Sterling
Highest in quality
Pound
To produce energetically, as from forceful use of the hands. Often used with out
"a tinny piano pounding out Happy Birthday down the block" (Laura Kascischke).
Sterling
Genuine, authentic, or trustworthy.
Her sterling honesty was admired by all.
Pound
To cause harm or loss to; affect adversely
Stocks that were pounded when energy prices rose.
Pound
To defeat soundly
Pounded their rivals in the season finale.
Pound
To attack verbally; criticize
Was pounded for months in the press.
Pound
(Slang) To drink quickly (a beverage, especially an alcoholic one). Often used with back or down
Pounded back a few beers after work.
Pound
To strike vigorous, repeated blows
He pounded on the table.
Pound
To move along heavily and noisily
The children pounded up the stairs.
Pound
To pulsate rapidly and heavily; throb
My heart pounded.
Pound
To move or work laboriously
A ship that pounded through heavy seas.
Pound
To confine (an animal) in a pound.
Pound
A unit of weight in various measurement systems
Pound
Ellipsis of pound weight
Pound
The translated name of various non-English units of measure
Pound
A unit of mass in various measurement systems
Pound
Ellipsis of pound mass
Pound
The translated name of various non-English units of measure
Pound
A unit of mass equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces (= 453.592 g). Today this value is the most common meaning of "pound" as a unit of weight.
Pound
A unit of mass equal to 12 troy ounces (≈ 373.242 g). Today, this is a common unit of mass when measuring precious metals, and is little used elsewhere.
Pound
A unit of force in various measurement systems
Pound
Ellipsis of pound force
Pound
The translated name of various non-English units of measure
Pound
A unit of currency in various currency systems
Pound
The translated name of various non-English units of currency
Pound
The unit of currency used in the United Kingdom and its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence. Symbol £.
Pound
Any of various units of currency used in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan and Syria, and formerly in the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Israel.
Pound
Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States.
The Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound
Pound
(US) The symbol # (octothorpe, hash, number sign)
Pound
A place for the detention of stray or wandering animals.
Dog pound
Pound
(metonymy) The people who work for the pound.
Pound
(UK) A place for the detention of automobiles that have been illegally parked, abandoned, etc.
Pound
A section of a canal between two adjacent locks.
Pound
A kind of fishing net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
Pound
(Newfoundland) a division inside a fishing stage where cod is cured in salt brine
Pound
A hard blow.
Pound
To wager a pound on.
Pound
To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.
Pound
(transitive) To strike hard, usually repeatedly.
Pound
(transitive) To crush to pieces; to pulverize.
Pound
To eat or drink very quickly.
You really pounded that beer!
Pound
To pitch consistently to a certain location.
The pitcher has been pounding the outside corner all night.
Pound
To beat strongly or throb.
As I tiptoed past the sleeping dog, my heart was pounding but I remained silent.
My head was pounding.
Pound
To penetrate sexually, with vigour.
I was pounding her all night!
Pound
To advance heavily with measured steps.
Pound
(engineering) To make a jarring noise, as when running.
The engine pounds.
Pound
To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat.
With cruel blows she pounds her blubbered cheeks.
Pound
To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt.
Pound
To strike heavy blows; to beat.
Pound
To make a jarring noise, as in running; as, the engine pounds.
Pound
To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.
Pound
An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.
Pound
A level stretch in a canal between locks.
Pound
A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
Pound
A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.
Pound
A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.
Pound
16 ounces;
He tried to lift 100 pounds
Pound
The basic unit of money in Great Britain; equal to 100 pence
Pound
The basic unit of money in Syria; equal to 100 piasters
Pound
The basic unit of money in the Sudan; equal to 100 piasters
Pound
The basic unit of money in Lebanon; equal to 100 piasters
Pound
Formerly the basic unit of money in Ireland; equal to 100 pence
Pound
The basic unit of money in Egypt; equal to 100 piasters
Pound
The basic unit of money in Cyprus; equal to 100 cents
Pound
A nontechnical unit of force equal to the mass of 1 pound with an acceleration of free fall equal to 32 feet/sec/sec
Pound
United States writer who lived in Europe; strongly influenced the development of modern literature (1885-1972)
Pound
A public enclosure for stray or unlicensed dogs;
Unlicensed dogs will be taken to the pound
Pound
The act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows);
The sudden hammer of fists caught him off guard
The pounding of feet on the hallway
Pound
Hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument;
The salesman pounded the door knocker
A bible-thumping Southern Baptist
Pound
Strike or drive against with a heavy impact;
Ram the gate with a sledgehammer
Pound on the door
Pound
Move heavily or clumsily;
The heavy man lumbered across the room
Pound
Move rhythmically;
Her heart was beating fast
Pound
Partition off into compartments;
The locks pound the water of the canal
Pound
Shut up or confine in any enclosure or within any bounds or limits;
The prisoners are safely pounded
Pound
Place or shut up in a pound;
Pound the cows so they don't stray
Pound
Break down and crush by beating, as with a pestle;
Pound the roots with a heavy flat stone
Pound
A unit of weight equal to 16 ounces.
The package weighed five pounds.
Pound
A hard, heavy, repeated sound.
The pounding of drums filled the air.
Common Curiosities
What is a pound in currency?
It's the unit of currency in the United Kingdom.
Can pound be used to measure weight?
Yes, it's also a unit of weight (16 ounces).
What does sterling silver mean?
It's high-quality silver, often used in jewelry and silverware.
Can sterling refer to personal qualities?
Yes, it can denote excellence or worth.
Is sterling used in everyday transactions?
Not usually; it's more common in financial contexts.
How does the value of the pound fluctuate?
It changes based on economic conditions and currency markets.
What does 'pound sterling' refer to?
It refers to the whole British currency system.
Is the pound used outside the U.K.?
Yes, in some British territories and former colonies.
Does sterling mean the same as pound?
Not exactly; sterling refers to the British currency system or quality.
Is pound only a British currency?
Other countries use 'pound,' but its value and symbol can differ.
Does sterling have a specific symbol?
It doesn't have its own symbol; it's often linked with the pound (£).
What symbol represents the pound?
It's represented by the symbol £.
What is the sterling area?
It's a group of countries that formerly pegged their currencies to the pound.
Are there other uses for the word pound?
Yes, it can mean a unit of weight, an enclosure for animals, or the act of pounding.
Can sterling mean genuine or authentic?
Yes, it can imply authenticity or trustworthiness.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
