pence

[ pens ]

noun

, British.

1. a plural of penny; used in referring to a sum of money rather than to the coins themselves (often used in combination):

   sixpence; The fare was 15 pence.

pence

/ pɛns /

noun

1. a plural of penny

Usage

Since the decimalization of British currency and the introduction of the abbreviation p, as in 10p, 85p, etc, the abbreviation has tended to replace pence in speech, as in 4p ˌfɔːˈpiː , 12p ˌtwɛlvˈpiː , etc

Other Words From

• penceless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pence¹

1275–1325; Middle English pens, pans

Example Sentences

In pounds and pence, it suggests that the standard allowance of universal credit, for a single person aged under 25, will go up by £5.30 a month to about £317.

From BBC

Announcing the move on social media, he said: "20 pence for a Freddo is too much, especially in a cost of living crisis".

From BBC

He said this is because the private operators' profit margins are already so small, at just a few pence for each passenger journey.

From BBC

In new deals from 17 January, providers must tell customers about any mid-contract price rises at the point of sale and "in pounds and pence".

From BBC

Carer's Allowance must be repaid in full if a strict earnings limit is exceeded by even a few pence.

From BBC