noun
penny
PEH-nee
noun
1
A small coin worth one cent, or one-hundredth of a pound or dollar.
"She found a penny on the sidewalk and picked it up for luck."
"Prices used to be marked down to the last penny."
2
Money in general, especially a small amount.
"He didn't have a penny to his name after the move."
How to Use Penny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe smallest standard coin in the US or UK currency system, or money in general.
Common pairings
a pretty penny
not a penny to spare
pinch pennies
Word Forms
pennied past tense, pennies plural, pence plural, pens plural, pennies singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “penny”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She found a _____ on the sidewalk and picked it up for luck.
Etymology
From Old English peniġ/penning, of uncertain deeper origin; a doublet of the German pfennig.