penny
penny — noun
- pennysingular
- penniesplural
1. in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a
in the modern British money system, one penny is one of the 100 equal parts of a pound, and also the coin with that value.
The bus fare was seventy pence, so Maya counted out seven coins.
cost + [number] pence
Ben found a shiny penny near the ticket machine at King's Cross.
At the bakery, two warm rolls cost ninety pence.
Grandpa keeps old pennies in a blue tin by the window.
pennies for the coins themselves
The school fair sold orange juice for fifty pence a cup.
- fifty pence
- one penny
- ten-pence coin
- count out pennies
- pound
the larger British unit made up of 100 pennies
Grammar Patterns
cost + [number] pence
a penny
pennies
Usage Note
For amounts, British English usually uses 'pence' or the written form 'p' after a number; 'pennies' more often means the coins themselves. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 belongs to the pound-and-pence system, not dollars and cents.
Common Mistakes
2. in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin wo
in the United States and Canada, an everyday name for a cent and for the coin worth one cent.
A penny rolled under the sofa while the children played cards.
Mia keeps Canadian pennies in a jar above her desk.
Canadian pennies
The cashier asked for one more penny to cover the tax.
At the museum door, Leo dropped a penny into the charity jar.
The little boy saved every penny in a glass piggy bank.
save every penny
- find a penny
- save every penny
- Canadian pennies
- pressed penny
- cent
the standard name for the value in North American prices
- one-cent coin
explicit term when you need to stress the physical coin
- dollar
the larger unit made up of 100 cents
Grammar Patterns
a penny
save every penny
Canadian pennies
Usage Note
In North American prices, people usually say 'cent' for the value and often 'penny' for the coin. Distinguish from sense 1: the idea is similar, but the currency system is different.
Common Mistakes
3. in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin an
in Britain and Ireland before decimal money began in 1971, a penny was a coin and money unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling.
In the old book, a stamp cost one penny.
The guide explained that twelve pennies once made one shilling.
twelve pennies made one shilling
Grandma showed us a dark penny from before decimal money.
At the museum, children held copies of old pennies.
- old penny
- decimal money
- one shilling
- museum penny
- old penny
plain historical label in everyday explanation
- pre-decimal penny
stresses that it belonged to the earlier British system
Grammar Patterns
one penny
twelve pennies made one shilling
Usage Note
Historical use only, mostly in books, museums, or talk about older prices. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense belongs to the pre-decimal system, where twelve pennies made a shilling.
Common Mistakes
4. the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or
the least sum of money at all, especially in set phrases about paying nothing or getting full value.
The repair did not cost us a penny because the shop made a mistake.
not cost a penny
After rent, Jae did not have a penny left for lunch.
not have a penny left
The old violin was expensive, but it was worth every penny.
worth every penny
The school raised money, and every penny bought new library books.
The hotel owner would not lower the bill by a penny.
by a penny
- not a penny
- every penny
- by a penny
- have a penny left
- small change
near equivalent when talking about a very small amount of money
- nothing
fits negative patterns when the meaning is no money at all
- fortune
a very large amount of money
Grammar Patterns
not a penny
worth every penny
by a penny
Usage Note
Usually appears in fixed patterns such as 'not a penny', 'every penny', and 'by a penny'. Distinguish from senses 1-3: here the focus is not the coin itself, but the idea of even the smallest sum.
Common Mistakes
every penny
idiomAll of the money that is available or that was collected.
We raised $500 and every penny went to the local shelter.
She earns a high salary, but she works hard for every penny.
Once you have started something, you should complete it even if it costs more time or money.
I already bought the paint, so in for a penny, in for a pound, I'll paint the whole house.
We've invested so much in this project; in for a penny, in for a pound, let's finish it.
not a penny
idiomNo money at all.
The old vase cost me not a penny; I found it in the attic.
He has not a penny to his name after the bankruptcy.
the penny drops
idiomSomeone finally understands something after not getting it before.
I explained the math problem twice before the penny dropped for Mia.
When he saw the empty wallet, the penny dropped and he realized it was stolen.
Used to ask someone what they are thinking about.
You look deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?
A penny for your thoughts, Sara? You've been quiet all evening.
pinch pennies
idiomTo try to spend as little money as possible.
During college, Tom had to pinch pennies to afford rent.
My grandmother always pinched pennies, even after she became wealthy.
a pretty penny
idiomA large amount of money.
That vintage car must have cost you a pretty penny.
Renovating the kitchen cost a pretty penny, but it looks amazing.
spend a penny
idiomA polite way to say use the toilet.
Excuse me, I need to spend a penny before we leave.
The child asked his mother if he could spend a penny during the movie.
To appear when not wanted, especially repeatedly.
My annoying neighbor always turns up like a bad penny at parties.
No matter where I go, that old acquaintance turns up like a bad penny.
two/ten a penny
idiomVery common and therefore not special or valuable.
In this city, coffee shops are ten a penny.
Smartphones with similar features are two a penny nowadays.
penny — suffix
1. added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
added to a number in older compounds to mark an item's price in pence.
The museum displayed a ticket for a threepenny bus ride.
[number]-penny + noun for old prices
Grandpa still talks about a fourpenny loaf from his school days.
At the fair, Nora bought a twopenny toy drum.
The old menu offered a sixpenny lunch with tea.
- threepenny bus ride
- fourpenny loaf
- twopenny toy
- sixpenny lunch
Grammar Patterns
[number]-penny + noun
Usage Note
Used in old-fashioned or historical price compounds, usually written as one word with the number. Distinguish from combining form sense 1: here the number shows price, not nail size.
Common Mistakes
penny — combining form
1. joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in buildin
joined to a number before 'nail' to name a traditional nail size used in building.
The carpenter asked for eight-penny nails to fix the fence boards.
[number]-penny nails for size, not price
For the roof frame, they used longer ten-penny nails.
The old toolbox still had a few sixteen-penny nails inside.
At the hardware store, Mia compared six-penny and eight-penny nails.
- six-penny nails
- eight-penny nails
- ten-penny nails
- sixteen-penny nails
Grammar Patterns
[number]-penny nail(s)
Usage Note
Almost always appears before 'nail' or 'nails' in building vocabulary. Distinguish from suffix sense 1: here the number marks the traditional size label, not how much something cost.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- pennilessadjectiveC1
- pennilessnessnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Penny' is a specific small coin name, but its exact use depends on the country. In modern British English, a penny is one of the 100 parts of a pound, while the amount after a number is usually called 'pence' or written 'p'. In North America, the matching one-cent coin is also called a penny, but the value is more often called a 'cent'. 'Coin' is broader and can mean any metal money. 'Change' usually means small coins in general, or the money returned after you pay. So you can say 'I found a penny on the street,' 'The apple cost 80p,' 'I need one cent,' and 'Keep the change.'
Etymology
This word goes back to Old English forms such as 'penig' and 'penning', both names for a small coin. It is related to Old High German 'pfenning', which named a similar coin in another Germanic language. The core idea has stayed very stable in English: a penny has long meant a very small unit of money.