pittance

[ pit-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.

pittance

/ ˈpɪtəns /

noun

1. a small amount or portion, esp a meagre allowance of money

Word History and Origins

Origin of pittance¹

1175–1225; Middle English pitaunce < Old French pitance, variant of pietance piety, pity, allowance of food (in a monastery). See pity, -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of pittance¹

C16: from Old French pietance ration, ultimately from Latin pietās duty

Example Sentences

The campaign supporting Proposition 6 has raised roughly $2 million, a pittance in a huge state with multiple expensive advertising markets.

From Los Angeles Times

This is sure to bring in a haul of money that would make his mugshot donations look like a pittance.

From Salon

Cynthia fed her family by working on a rubbish dump, collecting tin cans which she sold in return for a pittance.

From BBC

The fines, however, were a pittance for a billionaire: $9,000.

From Seattle Times

Conservatives says student debt relief is too expensive, but a new Congressional Budget Office estimate shows it’s a pittance.

From Los Angeles Times