sixpence

noun

six·​pence ˈsiks-pən(t)s How to pronounce sixpence (audio)
 US also  -ˌpen(t)s
1
: a former British monetary unit equal to six pennies
2
plural sixpence or sixpences : a coin worth sixpence

Examples of sixpence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Two and a half thousand words turned on a sixpence. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 In the good days when nothing in Woolworth’s cost over sixpence, one of their best lines was their rose bushes. Frances Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2022 The cost of the ceremony itself was over $1.8 million (£1.5 million), and the purchase price of a stool was about $5 (£4, 7 shillings and sixpence). Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2023 By the way, sixpence is equal to six pennies today! Brenda Yenke, cleveland, 21 July 2022 The Poets of Great Britain, launched in 1777, could a copy of The Faerie Queene be had for sixpence—inexpensive enough for a school-aged Leigh Hunt to purchase with pocket money. Catherine Nicholson, The New York Review of Books, 15 June 2021 And Julian Groves, 59, who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps for 11 years, discovered a lucky sixpence coin put inside one of the puddings during the royal mixing session. Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 Dec. 2020 The man gave him sixpence, which was a lot of money then. Deborah Orr, The New York Review of Books, 7 Feb. 2020 Each of the royals placed commemorative sixpences into the mixture, ready to be found by those attending the gatherings next year. Karen Mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, 22 Dec. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sixpence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sixpence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sixpence

Cite this Entry

“Sixpence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sixpence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sixpence

noun
six·​pence ˈsik-spən(t)s How to pronounce sixpence (audio)
 U.S. also  -ˌspen(t)s
1
: the sum of six pence
2
plural sixpence or sixpences : a coin representing six pence
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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