penny
5 synonyms for penny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small coin worth one cent, or one-hundredth of a pound or dollar.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
old penny
1⁄100 of a pound sterling
centime
How to use penny
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a pretty penny
not a penny to spare
pinch pennies
Etymology
From Old English peniġ/penning, of uncertain deeper origin; a doublet of the German pfennig.
Full origin of penny →Frequently asked questions
What does “penny” mean?
The word “penny” means a small coin worth one cent, or one-hundredth of a pound or dollar. In plain terms, the smallest standard coin in the US or UK currency system, or money in general.
How do you pronounce “penny”?
“Penny” is pronounced PEH-nee (/ˈpɛni/ in IPA).
How do you use “penny” in a sentence?
Here is “penny” used in a sentence: “She found a penny on the sidewalk and picked it up for luck.”
What is another word for “penny”?
Words with a similar meaning to “penny” include old penny and 1⁄100 of a pound sterling.
What part of speech is “penny”?
“Penny” is a noun.
Where does the word “penny” come from?
The word “penny” comes from Old English. From Old English peniġ/penning, of uncertain deeper origin; a doublet of the German pfennig.
Is “penny” a common word?
“Penny” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “penny” have?
“Penny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small coin worth one cent, or one-hundredth of a pound or dollar.
What is the plural of penny — pennies or pence?
Use pennies for the individual coins and, in British English, pence for an amount of money: three pennies are three separate coins, while three pence is a sum. In American English, pennies is the usual plural in all senses, since pence is not used for US money.
Is a penny the same as a cent?
In the United States, penny is the everyday name for the one-cent coin, so a penny is worth one cent — but cent is the official unit. In Britain, the penny is itself the official unit, worth one-hundredth of a pound.
