penny

1 of 2

noun

pen·​ny ˈpe-nē 

plural pennies ˈpe-nēz  or pence ˈpen(t)s 

often attributive

1

a

: a monetary unit of the United Kingdom formerly equal to 1/240 pound but now equal to 1/100 pound

b

: a similar monetary unit of any of various other countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth of Nations see pound at Money Table

c

: a coin representing one penny

2

: denarius

3

plural pennies : cent

4

: a former monetary unit equal to 1/100 Irish pound

5

: a trivial amount

6

: a piece or sum of money

that will cost a pretty penny

-penny

2 of 2

adjective combining form

: being a (designated) nail size

an eightpenny nail

Examples of penny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The auction house sold 232 sets of three coins each featuring a 2025 penny from the Philadelphia Mint, a 24-karat gold penny from the Philadelphia Mint and a 2025-D penny from the Denver Mint, according to a press release. —Mason Leath, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2025

Included in the sale were 232 three-coin sets featuring one of the 2025 pennies struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the 2025-D penny struck at the Denver Mint, and a special 2025 penny struck in 24-karat gold at the Philadelphia Mint. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2025

That has made the cost of having some of the world's cheapest gasoline, at a few pennies per gallon, that much more expensive. —Nasser Karimi, Arkansas Online, 14 Dec. 2025

Ironically, as part of the commemoration of the nation’s 250th birthday, the Mint plans to issue a limited number of pennies once again next year, marking the years 1776-2026 on them. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English penning, penig; akin to Old High German pfenning, a coin

Adjective combining form

penny; perhaps from the original price per hundred

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing penny

• (a) penny for your thoughts
• a penny saved (is a penny earned)
• a pretty penny
• earn/turn an honest penny
• every penny helps/counts
• in for a penny, in for a pound
• not a penny less/more
• not cost a penny
• penny ante
• penny arcade
• penny candy
• penny dreadful
• penny loafer
• penny-pinching
• penny stock
• penny whistle
• penny-wise
• penny-wise and/but pound-foolish
• ten a penny
• the penny drops
• worth every penny

Rhymes for penny

• any
• bennie
• benny
• henny
• jenny
• many
• antennae
• halfpenny
• propene
• sixpenny
• threepenny
• twopenny

Kids Definition

penny

noun

pen·​ny ˈpen-ē 

plural pennies

-ēz

or pence ˈpen(t)s 

1

a

: a British unit of money formerly equal to ¹⁄₂₄₀ pound but now equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ pound

b

: a coin representing this unit

2

plural pennies : cent

3

: a sum of money

earn an honest penny