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
Like other hitmakers at Studio One, Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths enjoyed their time there, despite being paid pittances, if they were paid at all.
—
Patricia Meschino, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
And educated professionals earn a pittance compared with their counterparts in wealthier countries.
—Byemmet Livingstone, science.org, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s a pittance for a guy whose Statcast page is a sea of red ink.
—Phil Rogers, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The state board did find last year that one of the political action committees, the People Who Play By The Rules PAC, failed to disclose its spending in the 2022 governor’s race in a timely manner, but the fine was just $25,500, a pittance compared with its holdings.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pittance 
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Patricia Meschino, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
And educated professionals earn a pittance compared with their counterparts in wealthier countries.
—Byemmet Livingstone, science.org, 3 Oct. 2024
That’s a pittance for a guy whose Statcast page is a sea of red ink.
—Phil Rogers, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The state board did find last year that one of the political action committees, the People Who Play By The Rules PAC, failed to disclose its spending in the 2022 governor’s race in a timely manner, but the fine was just $25,500, a pittance compared with its holdings.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2024
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 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pittance
noun
pit·tance
ˈpit-ᵊn(t)s
: a small portion, amount, or allowance especially of money
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