common currency

noun — 3 senses

common currency

noun

1

Literally A currency that is common to several countries.

2

A standard of measurement that can be used for comparing disparate things.

Based on these factors, scientists can calculate their global warming potential, which makes it possible to have a "common currency" for greenhouse gasses, translating any given gas into its equivalent in carbon dioxide.2017, Paul Hawkin, Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming, page xiv:

3

Figuratively Common practice; a widespread idea, a commonplace habit.

In global climate-speak, terms like 'scenario', 'impact', 'vulnerability', 'irreversible', 'mitigation', 'adaptation' and 'adaptive capacity' have become common currency, verbal coins sometimes so worn that they almost lose meaning, even though they carry sinister messages about the future of humanity.2011, V. Berridge, M. Gorsky, Environment, Health and History, page 264:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.