halfpenny

noun

half·​pen·​ny ˈhāp-nē How to pronounce halfpenny (audio)
ˈhā-pə-,
 US also  ˈhaf-ˌpe-nē,
ˈhäf-
1
plural halfpence ˈhā-pən(t)s How to pronounce halfpenny (audio)
 US also  ˈhaf-ˌpen(t)s,
ˈhäf-
or halfpennies : a formerly used British coin representing one half of a penny
2
: the sum of half a penny
3
: a small amount
halfpenny adjective

Examples of halfpenny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indeed, in 2023, his music earned him just shy of $200,000, about one halfpenny at a time. Brett Martin, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024 In nineteenth-century England, tailors would place old halfpennies in the pockets of a man’s new suit for good luck. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 The cost of providing the training, closing the stores and any loss of sales due to boycotting customers won’t show up until the fiscal third quarter when William Blair estimates up to a halfpenny penalty to earnings per share. Julie Jargon, WSJ, 25 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of halfpenny was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near halfpenny

Cite this Entry

“Halfpenny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halfpenny. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

halfpenny

noun
half·​pen·​ny ˈhāp-(ə-)nē How to pronounce halfpenny (audio)
 U.S. also  ˈhaf-ˌ-pen-ē,
ˈhȧf-
plural halfpence
ˈhā-pən(t)s,
 U.S. also  ˈhaf-ˌpen(t)s,
ˈhȧf-
or halfpennies
: a former British coin representing one half of a penny

More from Merriam-Webster on halfpenny

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!