pittance

American  

[pit-ns] / ˈpɪt ns /

noun

1. a small amount or share.

2. a small allowance or sum, as of money for living expenses.

3. a scanty income or remuneration.

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pittance British  

/ ˈpɪtəns /

noun

1. a small amount or portion, esp a meagre allowance of money

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Etymology

Origin of pittance

1175–1225; Middle English pitaunce < Old French pitance, variant of pietance piety, pity, allowance of food (in a monastery). See pity, -ance

Explanation

A pittance is a tiny payment or small reimbursement for work — generally an amount that's inadequate. The restaurant may pay you a pittance, but you can do well if you get a lot of good tips. The word pittance came into English from the Old French word pitance, meaning “allowance of food to a monk or poor person,” which in turn came from the Latin word pietas, meaning “pity.” Although a pittance may have originally meant that you were taking pity on someone with less wealth by giving them money or food, these days when you get a pittance it means that you earn a pitiful wage.

Example Sentences

That’s a pittance compared to what many Americans shell out if they’re insured through their employer, even accounting for the fact that employer plans tend to be superior in their choices and coverage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

Spotify has long been criticized by musicians, songwriters and artists’ rights groups, who have accused the company of paying a pittance to most of the working artists whose songs appear on its platform.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 16, 2025

Months later he return to his home region as a member of the British expedition, paid a daily pittance of just a few Nepali rupee coins.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

The maximum fine the league can impose is $7.5 million, a pittance relative to Ballmer’s estimated net worth of $171 billion.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2025

He even paid us the same pittance he usually did, despite his threats.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman