pint

American  

[pahynt] / paɪnt /

noun

1. a liquid and also dry measure of capacity, equal to one half of a liquid and dry quart respectively, approximately 35 cubic inches (0.473 liter). pt, pt.

---

pint British  

/ paɪnt /

noun

1. a unit of liquid measure of capacity equal to one eighth of a gallon. 1 Brit pint is equal to 0.568 litre, 1 US pint to 0.473 litre

2. a unit of dry measure of capacity equal to one half of a quart. 1 US dry pint is equal to one sixty-fourth of a US bushel or 0.5506 litre

3. a measure having such a capacity

4. informal

   1. a pint of beer

   2. a drink of beer

      he's gone out for a pint

---

pint Scientific  

/ pīnt /

1. A unit of liquid volume or capacity in the US Customary System, equal to 16 fluid ounces or 28.88 cubic inches (about 0.47 liter).

2. A unit of dry volume or capacity used in the US Customary System, equal to 1/2 of a quart or 34.6 cubic inches (about 0.55 liter).

3. See Table at measurement

---

Etymology

Origin of pint

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pynte, from Old French pinte or Middle Dutch, Middle Low German pinte

Compare meaning

How does pint compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• pint vs. gallon
• pint vs. liter

Example Sentences

“He’s pouring a great pint out there,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

As the head of beer quality for Guinness in the U.S., it’s his job to make sure that bartenders have everything they need to deliver drinkers a perfect pint of the brand’s signature stout.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

You find yourself in your kitchen holding a pint of strawberries that look airbrushed, but taste like wet air.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2026

Following the increase, due to take effect in April, it said the impact per draught pint for customers would be approximately £0.04.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

“You could ’a drawed me off a pint easy enough.

From "1984" by George Orwell