Meaning & use
pittance
Last updated
UK/ˈpɪtəns/
US/ˈpɪtəns/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.
Meaning
nouncountabledisapproving
A very small amount of money paid for work, considered unfairly low.
Grammar: Usually singular with 'a': They earn a pittance.
Patterns
- earn a pittance
- paid a pittance
- work for a pittance
The interns were paid a pittance for full-time work.
She earns a pittance cleaning offices at night.
Word forms
| plural | pittances |
|---|
Common combinations
- earn a pittance
- Many artists earn a pittance from their early work.
- paid a pittance
- The workers were paid a pittance for long hours.
- work for a pittance
- He refused to work for a pittance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- peanuts
- Informal; 'peanuts' is even more casual and often used in negation: 'paid peanuts'.
- paltry sum
- More formal; 'paltry sum' emphasizes the smallness as an adjective phrase.
Opposites
fortunelarge sum
Commonly confused: pittance or pitiful?
pittance vs pitiful
An adjective meaning 'making you feel pity'; 'pittance' is a noun for a small amount of money.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Pittance' means a very small, unfair amount, so option 2 fits. Option 1 is contradictory (CEOs earn a lot). Option 3 is not idiomatic; we say 'a pittance' not 'a pittance of money'. Option 4 is awkward; 'for her salary' is not used.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pittance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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