farthing
noun
far·thing
ˈfär-t͟hiŋ 
1
a
: a former British monetary unit equal to ¹/₄ of a penny
b
: a coin representing this unit
2
: something of small value : mite
Examples of farthing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ultimately, Whistler won in 1878, but he was only awarded a farthing, just a quarter of a penny, says Merrill.
—
Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2024
Weekend activities include walking tours, a ghost tour, games, a scavenger hunt for children, living history actors, flower and turkey carving demonstrations, and bikers on penny farthings, as well as the usual lively market scene.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Every farthing advances the cause, and is celebrated here at NR HQ.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 2 Oct. 2023
One woman, dressed like a suffragette, propelled herself on a three-wheeled contraption that resembled a penny-farthing.
—Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 30 July 2022
My next bike, the red-and-yellow Big Wheel, had a lot in common with a velocipede known as the penny-farthing, which was invented in the eighteen-seventies.
—The New Yorker, 23 May 2022
Every farthing of the cost, All the dreaded cards foretell, Shall be paid, but from this night Not a whisper, not a thought, Not a kiss nor look be lost.
—Alan Jacobs, Harper’s Magazine , 27 Apr. 2022
The front wheel of his penny-farthing was 50 inches tall, and Stevens coasted into villages where bicycles had never been seen.
—Robert Isenberg, Longreads, 26 Apr. 2022
The penny-farthing, with its huge front wheel, seems vaguely ridiculous in retrospect—and also pretty dangerous.
—Samuel Arbesman, Wired, 26 Jan. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2024
Weekend activities include walking tours, a ghost tour, games, a scavenger hunt for children, living history actors, flower and turkey carving demonstrations, and bikers on penny farthings, as well as the usual lively market scene.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Every farthing advances the cause, and is celebrated here at NR HQ.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 2 Oct. 2023
One woman, dressed like a suffragette, propelled herself on a three-wheeled contraption that resembled a penny-farthing.
—Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 30 July 2022
My next bike, the red-and-yellow Big Wheel, had a lot in common with a velocipede known as the penny-farthing, which was invented in the eighteen-seventies.
—The New Yorker, 23 May 2022
Every farthing of the cost, All the dreaded cards foretell, Shall be paid, but from this night Not a whisper, not a thought, Not a kiss nor look be lost.
—Alan Jacobs, Harper’s Magazine , 27 Apr. 2022
The front wheel of his penny-farthing was 50 inches tall, and Stevens coasted into villages where bicycles had never been seen.
—Robert Isenberg, Longreads, 26 Apr. 2022
The penny-farthing, with its huge front wheel, seems vaguely ridiculous in retrospect—and also pretty dangerous.
—Samuel Arbesman, Wired, 26 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Farthing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/farthing. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
farthing
noun
far·thing
ˈfär-t͟hiŋ
: a former British unit of money equal to ¼ of a penny
also
: a coin representing this unit
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share