pence

[ pens ]

noun

, British.

1. a plural of penny; used in referring to a sum of money rather than to the coins themselves (often used in combination):

   sixpence; The fare was 15 pence.

pence

/ pɛns /

noun

1. See penny
   a plural of penny

Usage

Since the decimalization of British currency and the introduction of the abbreviation p, as in 10p, 85p, etc, the abbreviation has tended to replace pence in speech, as in 4p ˌfɔːˈpiː , 12p ˌtwɛlvˈpiː , etc

Other Words From

• penceless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pence¹

1275–1325; Middle English pens, pans

Example Sentences

And similar shards of enthusiasm-killing kryptonite are lodged in John Kasich, Mike Pence and Ted Cruz.

From The Daily Beast

But Pence, who was slated to keynote this conference in just a few minutes?

From The Daily Beast

Much of the praise of Pence is in this vein—he will not embarrass us.

From The Daily Beast

Pence told the crowd, however, that he had only first come to New York 13 years ago, at the age of 40, when he was a congressman.

From The Daily Beast

Pence, with his thick mane of hair and thick build, looks great on a flier.

From The Daily Beast

In 1205 wheat was worth 12 pence per bushel, which was cheap, as there had been some years of famine previous thereto.

From Project Gutenberg

The King now increased it to the enormous sum of two shilling and ten pence.

From Project Gutenberg

They went away feeling ready for any trouble in reason, and they gave Leo more peacock feathers and pence than he could count.

From Project Gutenberg

On hearing this, the Earl of Gloucester at once sent Bruce a broad hint in the form of twelve pence and a pair of spurs.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, on March 5, 1770, the Townshend Acts were repealed with the exception of the tax on tea: three pence per pound.

From Project Gutenberg