pittance
noun
pit·tance
ˈpi-tᵊn(t)s 
: a small portion, amount, or allowance
also
: a meager wage or remuneration
Did you know?
It's a pity when you haven't anything but a pittance. And in fact, pity and pittance share etymological roots. The Middle English word pittance came from Anglo-French pitance, meaning "pity" or "piety." Originally, a pittance was a gift or bequest to a religious community, or a small charitable gift. Ultimately, the word comes from the Latin pietas, meaning "piety" or "compassion." Our words pity and piety come from pietas as well.
Examples of pittance in a Sentence
the internship offers only a pittance for a salary, but it is a great opportunity to gain experience
Recent Examples on the Web
However, Apex is a pittance in NASA's overall budget.
—
ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
Which is not, under any circumstances, a pittance, especially when the job is staying in a swanky resort and acting, not coal-mining.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The $15 entry fee for Friday’s watch party – which benefitted the Florida Panthers Foundation – is pittance compared to the steep bill for Games 3, 4, and 6 (should the series get that far).
—Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
In an industry where cacao farmers are often paid a pittance—sometimes just $1 per kilo while European chocolatiers sell truffles for €100—Paccari pays triple.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pittance
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ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
Which is not, under any circumstances, a pittance, especially when the job is staying in a swanky resort and acting, not coal-mining.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 June 2025
The $15 entry fee for Friday’s watch party – which benefitted the Florida Panthers Foundation – is pittance compared to the steep bill for Games 3, 4, and 6 (should the series get that far).
—Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025
In an industry where cacao farmers are often paid a pittance—sometimes just $1 per kilo while European chocolatiers sell truffles for €100—Paccari pays triple.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pittance
Cite this Entry
“Pittance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pittance. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pittance
noun
pit·tance
ˈpit-ᵊn(t)s
: a small portion, amount, or allowance especially of money
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