penny

1 of 2

noun

pen·​ny ˈpe-nē How to pronounce penny (audio)
plural pennies ˈpe-nēz How to pronounce penny (audio) or pence ˈpen(t)s How to pronounce penny (audio)
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
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
While 58 cents per dollar is a penny improvement compared with the previous year, NWLC notes that even though wages have been increasing, so too has the total wage gap over a lifetime — which last year totaled $1,218,000. Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024 In metro Detroit, the average daily price was a penny more, $3.48, also a 10 cent hike from a week ago. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 30 Sep. 2024 Mike Ashley's Frasers Group set its sights on British handbag maker Mulberry, offering the company 130 pence a share for a takeover. Kimberly Chin, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024 There are 150 billion pennies in circulation with another 138 billion in jars, on the street, in loafers, etc. Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for penny 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of penny was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near penny

Cite this Entry

“Penny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penny. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

penny

noun
pen·​ny ˈpen-ē How to pronounce penny (audio)
plural pennies
-ēz
or pence ˈpen(t)s How to pronounce penny (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on penny

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