pittance
noun
pit·tance
ˈpi-tᵊn(t)s 
: a small portion, amount, or allowance
also
: a meager wage or remuneration
Did you know?
It's a pity when you haven't anything but a pittance. And in fact, pity and pittance share etymological roots. The Middle English word pittance came from Anglo-French pitance, meaning "pity" or "piety." Originally, a pittance was a gift or bequest to a religious community, or a small charitable gift. Ultimately, the word comes from the Latin pietas, meaning "piety" or "compassion." Our words pity and piety come from pietas as well.
Examples of pittance in a Sentence
the internship offers only a pittance for a salary, but it is a great opportunity to gain experience
Recent Examples on the Web
Many are in their 70s or older, hauling tens of kilograms of cardboard for a pittance in order to scrape by in one of Asia’s richest cities.
—
Catherine Phillips, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Johnson, this season’s Sixth Man Award winner, is on the books for a manageable $17 million, Kornet and 3-and-D ace Devin Vassell are inked for three more years on solid terms, and starting forward Julian Champagnie has a team option for a mere pittance of $3 million next year.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Actors have long complained that streaming residuals are a pittance compared to traditional broadcast and syndication residuals.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
But that’s just a pittance of the overall burden.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pittance
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Catherine Phillips, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Johnson, this season’s Sixth Man Award winner, is on the books for a manageable $17 million, Kornet and 3-and-D ace Devin Vassell are inked for three more years on solid terms, and starting forward Julian Champagnie has a team option for a mere pittance of $3 million next year.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Actors have long complained that streaming residuals are a pittance compared to traditional broadcast and syndication residuals.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
But that’s just a pittance of the overall burden.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pittance
Cite this Entry
“Pittance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pittance. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pittance
noun
pit·tance
ˈpit-ᵊn(t)s
: a small portion, amount, or allowance especially of money
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