noun
pittance
PIH-tuhns
Pittance (noun) means a very small amount of money, especially as pay. Example: “He worked long hours for a pittance during his first job.”
noun
1
A very small amount of money, especially as pay.
"The former residents of Fraguas, who sold up for a pittance, have swung behind the resettlement, happy to see life return to the narrow lanes where they grew up."
— Sam Jones, Ill-fated Spanish village poised to be destroyed a third time (2022)
"He worked long hours for a pittance during his first job."
How to use pittance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny, often unfairly small, amount of money.
Common pairings
paid a pittance
work for a pittance
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Word forms
- Plural
- pittances
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He worked long hours for a _____ during his first job.
Etymology
From Old French pitance, from Medieval Latin pietantia, related to Latin pietas ("piety") — originally referring to a small charitable food allowance given to monks.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for pittance
See all rhymes for pittance →Frequently asked questions
What does “pittance” mean?
The word “pittance” means a very small amount of money, especially as pay. In plain terms, a tiny, often unfairly small, amount of money.
How do you pronounce “pittance”?
“Pittance” is pronounced PIH-tuhns (/ˈpɪtəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “pittance” in a sentence?
Here is “pittance” used in a sentence: “He worked long hours for a pittance during his first job.”
What part of speech is “pittance”?
“Pittance” is a noun.
Where does the word “pittance” come from?
The word “pittance” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French pitance, from Medieval Latin pietantia, related to Latin pietas ("piety") — originally referring to a small charitable food allowance given to monks.
