What is "decimalisation"

decimalisation \decimalisation\ n. same as decimalization.

Syn: decimalization.

alt. 1 Conversion to a decimal system. 2 Specifically, conversion of the currency of the United Kingdom in 1971 from pounds, shillings and pence to a decimal system in which one pound was worth 100 new pence (later renamed simply ''pence''). n. 1 Conversion to a decimal system. 2 Specifically, conversion of the currency of the United Kingdom in 1971 from pounds, shillings and pence to a decimal system in which one pound was worth 100 new pence (later renamed simply ''pence'').

n. the act of changing to a decimal system; "the decimalization of British currency" [syn: decimalization]

Decimalisation is the process of converting a currency from its previous non-decimal denominations to a decimal system, i.e., a system based on one basic unit of currency and one or more sub-units, such that the number of sub-units in one basic unit is a power of 10, most commonly 100.

The only current non-decimal currencies are the Malagasy ariary (equal to five iraimbilanja) and the Mauritanian ouguiya (equal to five khoums), though in practice both just have one currency unit and no sub-unit because khoums and iraimbilanja are no longer minted.

Decimalisation or decimalization is the conversion of a measurement system to units of decimal (base ten) form, instead of traditional units of other forms, such as those formed by successive doubling or halving. For example, a series of (1000, 100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001) instead of (16, 8, 4, 2, 1, , , , , , ). Thus the word may refer to:

• Decimalisation of currencies
• Decimalisation of physical measurements (such as distance or weight), intimately bound historically with metrication
• Decimalisation of time units
  • Decimalisation of the time of day via decimal time systems
  • Decimalisation of the calendar via decimal calendar systems