Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "penny" []

  • In the United States and Canada, the coin that is worth one cent. (noun)
  • A coin used in Great Britain since 1971, worth 1/100 of a pound. Also called new penny. (noun)
  • A coin formerly used in Great Britain, worth 1/12 of a shilling or 1/240 of a pound. (noun)
  • A coin formerly used in the Republic of Ireland, worth 1/100 of a pound. (noun)
  • A coin used in various dependent territories of the United Kingdom. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "penny" in a sentence
  • "In the U.S. financial markets, the term penny stock commonly refers to any stock trading outside one of the major exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ or AMEX), and is often considered pejorative."
  • "Bill Eadington, director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada-Reno said the term penny slots is a misnomer because most wagers on the devices are much greater."
  • "I refer to his inclusion of the term penny dreadful."