noun

farthing

FAH-thihng

Farthing (noun) means a former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny. Example: “The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.”

noun

A former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny.

"The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961."

A tiny or negligible amount.

"He didn't care a farthing what people thought of him."

How to use farthing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA very small old British coin, or, figuratively, a tiny amount.

Common pairings

not care a farthing old farthing

Word forms

farthings plural, Farthings plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.

Etymology

From Old English fēorþing, "a fourth part" — built from fēorþa ("fourth"), the same root as "fourth" itself.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “farthing” mean?

The word “farthing” means a former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny. In plain terms, a very small old British coin, or, figuratively, a tiny amount.

How do you pronounce “farthing”?

“Farthing” is pronounced FAH-thihng (/ˈfɑː(ɹ).ðɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “farthing” in a sentence?

Here is “farthing” used in a sentence: “The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.”

What part of speech is “farthing”?

“Farthing” is a noun.

Where does the word “farthing” come from?

The word “farthing” comes from Old English. From Old English fēorþing, "a fourth part" — built from fēorþa ("fourth"), the same root as "fourth" itself.

How many meanings does “farthing” have?

“Farthing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny.