Pence Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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pence

[pɛns ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

money

A subdivision of the British pound sterling, equal to one hundredth of a pound. In modern usage, the term pence is primarily used in the United Kingdom.

Synonyms

cent, penny.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pence

Used in the UK to refer to amounts of money smaller than one pound. It's the plural form of 'penny'.

  • The item costs 50 pence.
  • You can save pence by using discount coupons.
cent

Used in the US and many other countries to refer to amounts of money smaller than one dollar.

  • The candy costs 25 cents.
  • I found a few cents under the couch.
penny

Also used in the UK to refer to a single unit of currency smaller than one pound. It is the singular form of 'pence'.

  • I found a penny on the sidewalk.
  • This pen costs just one penny.

Examples of usage

  • The price of the item is 99 pence.
  • She owes me fifty pence.
  • Please give me some change in pence.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'pence'

The word 'pence' originated from the Latin word 'pensum', which means a fixed weight or measure. It has been used in the English language since the 9th century. The concept of a subdivision of a pound into pence has been in use for centuries, dating back to the introduction of the pound sterling in England.


Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,823, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.