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

It is a pittance compared to full members - England receive close to £33m in addition to lucrative broadcast deals.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

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

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

For years, the Pentagon has procured a pittance of missiles, hovering around the minimum sustainment rate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

Some real estate agents worry that the hyper-rich will resent the tax, but so far wealthy homebuilders seem to regard it as a pittance compared with the other costs they incur.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times