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
: 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
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
At the other end of the scale, Palace are one of just two clubs not to have spent a penny — Sunderland being the other. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026 America’s penny press transformed journalism in the 1830s, using hoaxes, sensationalism, and mass circulation to create a blueprint for modern media. — Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026 Bots, however, do not mind having to carry out dozens or hundreds of individual transactions—meaning that information and data of all sorts can now be sold piecemeal, often for pennies, to thousands or millions of AI agents holding stablecoins. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 Inside, there isn’t much character to the white-box bedrooms, but there are three of them and three bathrooms with penny-tile floors and white subway tile on the walls. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing penny

Rhymes for penny

See All Rhymes for penny

Browse Nearby Words

Pennsylvania truss
penny
-penny
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Penny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penny. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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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

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