noun
Common
rand
rand
Rand (noun) means South Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents. Example: “The bill came to two hundred rand.”
noun
1
South Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents.
"The bill came to two hundred rand."
"The exchange rate against the rand had weakened overnight."
"I changed my pounds into rand at the airport before my trip."
2
An edge, border, or rim of something, such as a strip of land or leather.
"The old maps marked the rand of the marsh in faint ink."
"A leather rand was stitched around the heel of the boot."
"The cobbler trimmed the rand of the shoe until it sat neatly against the sole."
How to use rand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually means the South African currency; in older or technical use it can also mean an edge or rim.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with the given names Randy or Randall, or with random.
Common pairings
South African rand
the rand weakened
rand per dollar
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Word forms
- Plural
- rands
- Third person singular
- rands
- Past tense
- randed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bill came to two hundred _____.
Etymology
From Old English rand, "edge or border" — the South African currency sense comes from the Witwatersrand goldfields, whose name literally means "white water's edge."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rand
See all rhymes for rand →Frequently asked questions
What does “rand” mean?
The word “rand” means south Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents. In plain terms, usually means the South African currency; in older or technical use it can also mean an edge or rim.
How do you pronounce “rand”?
“Rand” is pronounced rand (/ɹænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “rand” in a sentence?
Here is “rand” used in a sentence: “The bill came to two hundred rand.”
What part of speech is “rand”?
“Rand” is a noun.
Where does the word “rand” come from?
The word “rand” comes from Old English. From Old English rand, "edge or border" — the South African currency sense comes from the Witwatersrand goldfields, whose name literally means "white water's edge.".
Is “rand” a common word?
“Rand” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rand” have?
“Rand” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: south Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents.
What is the difference between the rand and other currencies like the dollar?
The rand is South Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents, similar in structure to currencies like the US dollar or the euro. It is used specifically in South Africa and, informally, in some neighboring countries.
What does rand mean besides the South African currency?
Rand can also refer to an edge, border, or rim of something, such as a strip of land or leather, a much older sense unrelated to the currency.
How is South African currency abbreviated?
South Africa's currency, the rand, is commonly abbreviated as ZAR in international financial contexts, or represented with the symbol R before an amount.
