pint

noun

ˈpīnt 

1

: a unit of capacity equal to ¹/₂ quart see Weights and Measures Table

2

: a pint pot or vessel

Examples of pint in a Sentence

The ice cream comes in pints.

I'd like another pint, please.

We'll all go for a pint after work.

Recent Examples on the Web

My Grandmother's Plum Preserves My grandmother’s recipe for two pints of Damson plum preserves called for two pounds of plums to every three cups of sugar. —Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025

Waves of noise were coming from every which way, the low rumble of conversation broken by the higher pitched sounds of laughter and pint glasses. —Sarah Chamberlain, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025

The fields, the pints and the football largely look the same in both Iowa and Wisconsin, and the beer soaks the palate of life along the Driftless beer highway. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is a pint-sized portable with a detachable keyboard that offers impressive performance for a little more than $200. —PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pinte, from Middle French, probably from Vulgar Latin *pincta, feminine of pinctus, past participle of Latin pingere to paint; from the use of a painted mark on a container to show its capacity — more at paint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pint

• half-pint
• pint-size
• pint-sized

Kids Definition

pint

noun

ˈpīnt 

1

: a unit of capacity equal to ½ quart see measure

2

: a pint container

Medical Definition

pint

noun

ˈpīnt 

: any of various measures of liquid capacity equal to one-half quart: as

a

: a United States measure equal to 16 fluid ounces, 473.176 milliliters, or 28.875 cubic inches

b

: a British measure equal to 20 fluid ounces, 568.26 milliliters, or 34.678 cubic inches