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

A very small amount of money, especially as pay.

"He worked long hours for a pittance during his first job."

How to use pittance

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tiny, often unfairly small, amount of money.

Common pairings

paid a pittance work for a pittance

Word forms

pittances plural

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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.

Origin: Medieval Latin

Rhymes for pittance

lance dance Nance seance chance nuance trance stance glance balance advance finance

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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.