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

Washington recognized distressed assets in Young and Davis and snatched them up for pennies on the dollar, only a couple of years removed from the Lakers having considered pairing them. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026

The son of an emotionally remote father and penny-pinching mom, Smith was born the eldest of two boys in Tacoma. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026

But when an animal measures just a few inches from beak to tail and weighs about as much as a penny, even basic veterinary care is a challenge. —Sarah Kuta, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026

As our Mike Vorkunov already pointed out, the four teams that are pennies above the tax line (Philadelphia, Denver, Phoenix and Toronto) are virtually guaranteed to make small deals to get under; these will just be spectacularly uninteresting trades in terms of actual basketball. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

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