specie

UK: /ˈspiːʃiː/ US: /ˈspiʃi, -si/ ,(spē′shē, -sē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spe•cie¹ /ˈspiʃi, -si/   n. [uncountable]

1. money in coins.

See -spec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spe•cie¹  (spē′shē, -sē), n. 

1. coined money;
   coin.
2. in specie:
   • in the same kind.
   • (of money) in coin.
   • in a similar manner;
     in kind:
     Such treachery should be repaid in specie.
   • [Law.] in the identical shape, form, etc., as specified.

• Latin (in) speciē (in) kind; see species
• 1545–55

spe•cie²  (spē′shē, -sē), n. [Nonstandard.]

1. species.

• by back formation, construing species as plural noun, nominal

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

specie / ˈspiːʃiː/ noun

1. coin money, as distinguished from bullion or paper money
2. in specie ⇒ (of money) in coin
3. in kind

Etymology: 16th Century: from the Latin phrase in speciē in kind