penny Definition
- 1a small coin worth one cent in the US and Canada
- 2a British coin worth one twelfth of a shilling or one two-hundred-and-fortieth of a pound
Using penny: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "penny" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I found a penny on the street.
Example
The price of the candy is 99 cents, just one penny short of a dollar.
Example
In the UK, the penny has been in circulation since the 8th century.
penny Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with penny
Example
You seem lost in thought. A penny for your thoughts?
if you decide to do something risky or expensive, you might as well go all the way
Example
I've already spent so much money on this project, I might as well finish it. In for a penny, in for a pound.
penny-pinching
being excessively frugal or miserly with money
Example
He's always penny-pinching, even when it comes to buying necessities.
Origins of penny
from Old English 'penig', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'penning', German 'Pfennig', also to pawn
Summary: penny in Brief
A 'penny' [ˈpɛni] is a small coin worth one cent in the US and Canada, or a British coin worth one twelfth of a shilling or one two-hundred-and-fortieth of a pound. It is commonly used in phrases like 'a penny for your thoughts,' meaning to ask someone what they are thinking about, and 'in for a penny, in for a pound,' implying that if you decide to do something risky or expensive, you might as well go all the way.
