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
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.
Noun
Afp | Getty Images Taken from CNBC’s Daily Open, our international markets newsletter — Subscribe today Investors can have a reputation of being penny pinchers. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 24 July 2025 At the company’s re:Invent event in 2024, CEO Andy Jassy talked extensively about how continuous improvement in the supply chain can save a few pennies per package that add up to billions of dollars at scale. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 23 July 2025 Most podcasters make pennies compared to Budden’s millions. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 July 2025 And for those who want an even more personalized approach, Rosenthal also offers fully custom dorm design kits—though these will cost you a much prettier penny. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for penny

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Penny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penny. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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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