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.
Synonyms
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
In the meantime, JPMorgan has set aside around $10 billion of its own money — a pittance for the bank — to compete with the likes of Blue Owl on private credit deals.
—
Rob Copeland, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Markkanen makes a pittance for a player of his caliber — just $18.4 million — but will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
By the third year with a cap of $113.5 million, any Marchand deal would seem like a relative pittance.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
While better than nothing, $10,000 is only a pittance in New York, where typical property taxes in the suburbs may run double that.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Rob Copeland, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Markkanen makes a pittance for a player of his caliber — just $18.4 million — but will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
—John Hollinger, The Athletic, 9 July 2024
By the third year with a cap of $113.5 million, any Marchand deal would seem like a relative pittance.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2025
While better than nothing, $10,000 is only a pittance in New York, where typical property taxes in the suburbs may run double that.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pittance
Dictionary Entries Near pittance
Cite this Entry
“Pittance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pittance. Accessed 21 Feb. 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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