\
\
or pence\ˈpen(t)s
\
Definition of penny
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
adjective combining formDefinition of -penny (Entry 2 of 2)
: being a (designated) nail size an eightpenny nail
Examples of penny in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Because a toxicology report showed Hill was drunk, the jury reduced that $4 to 4 cents. Because #BlackLivesMatter in pennies. — Jeneé Osterheldt, kansascity, "Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Kanye West's new album 'Ye' is a problematic alarm clock," 1 June 2018 Flynt sent a half-dozen of them to the bank lobby pushing wheelbarrows filled with enough pennies to pay off the loan. — Cincinnati Enquirer, "Read more from this Project," 13 July 2018 My experience is that folks will get, unfortunately, pennies on the dollar. — Patricia Madej, Philly.com, "Center City water main break aftermath: A few buildings still lack power, months of work ahead," 11 July 2018 Robert Gates, for example, said in Brussels in 2011 that European penny-pinching and distaste for front-line combat in Afghanistan was putting the future of the alliance at risk. — Robert Burns, The Seattle Times, "Trump’s attacks on NATO raise questions about its future," 10 July 2018 Robert Gates, for example, said in Brussels in 2011 that European penny-pinching and distaste for front-line combat in Afghanistan was putting the future of the alliance at risk. — Robert Burns, Fox News, "Trump's attacks on NATO raise questions about its future," 10 July 2018 The 8,500 investors, and vendors who did work for the company, received pennies on the dollar. — John Sowell, idahostatesman, "Meridian businessmen who led fraud scheme that hurt 8,500 investors imprisoned at last," 10 July 2018 Fields doesn't want to damage the eggs that could cost him or his fishermen dollars, not pennies. — Bailey Loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky is swimming with potential to take over the US caviar market," 28 June 2018 Activities include penny carnival, horseshoe tournament, face painting and inflatables. — Aurora Beacon-News, "Where to watch fireworks in the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana," 25 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penny.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for penny
penny
noun
English Language Learners Definition of penny
: a coin or a unit of money equal to 1/100 of a dollar
: a coin or a unit of money equal to 1/100 of a British pound
: a British coin used before 1971 that was equal to 1/12 of a shilling
See the full definition for penny in the English Language Learners Dictionary
penny
noun
\
Kids Definition of penny
1 : cent
2 or plural pence\ˈpens\ : a coin of the United Kingdom equal to ¹/₁₀₀ pound
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