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 Example: “The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.”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
1
A former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny.
"The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961."
"I had never defrauded a man of a farthing, nor called him knave behind his back. But now the last rag that covered my nakedness had been torn from me. I was branded a blackleg, card-sharper, and murderer."
— William Blair Morton Ferguson (1908)
2
A tiny or negligible amount.
"He didn't care a farthing what people thought of him."
How to use farthing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very small old British coin, or, figuratively, a tiny amount.
Common pairings
not care a farthing
old farthing
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Word forms
- Plural
- farthings
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The _____ was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.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.
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Here is “farthing” used in a sentence: “The farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1961.”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.
