- plural of penny.
pence
Americannoun
noun
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 Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pence
1275–1325; Middle English pens, pans
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
BHP’s London shares rise 0.4% to 3,256 pence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Shares are up 0.7% at 354 pence and have climbed 21% over the year to date.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
This reduces downside risk for Aviva’s Direct Line, and increases confidence in the insurer reaching 75 pence earnings per share in 2028, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Both come at a premium to Bodycote’s share-price lows, but the valuation of the U.K. industrial company could be above 1,000 pence a share—or 1.7 billion pounds—under a blue-sky scenario, they say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I was inevitably short more than a few pence each month.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.