Crossword Genius

Officer getting popular, mature and tender (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coinage

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'tender' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'officer getting popular mature' is the wordplay.
'officer' becomes 'co' (Commanding Officer abbreviation).
'getting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'mature' becomes 'age' (synonyms).
'co'+'in'+'age'='COINAGE'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for coinage that I've seen before include "Metal currency" , "Metal money" , "Currency; new word" , "Royal Mint's output" , "Fresh term" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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