What does halfpenny mean?
A halfpenny was a small British coin worth half of one penny. Halfpennies circulated in Britain for centuries, alongside other low-denomination coins, and were eventually withdrawn as decimalisation replaced the old currency system. Today the word is mainly historical, but it survives in expressions such as “not worth a halfpenny,” where it emphasizes how trivial or worthless something is. It can also mean the former monetary amount of half a penny, as when an old price or payment is described in halfpence. Although commonly encountered in descriptions of coin collections and nineteenth- or early twentieth-century life, “halfpenny” is not normally used in contemporary everyday transactions. Its value as a word lies in preserving a small but vivid piece of British monetary history.
nounA former British coin worth half a penny. The word can also refer to the monetary amount equal to half of one penny.
- A former British coin worth half a penny.
- A former monetary amount equal to half of one penny.
"The old halfpenny was withdrawn from circulation long before decimalisation."
"The collector examined a worn halfpenny from the nineteenth century."
"The trouble was not worth a halfpenny."
“Halfpennies” normally refers to the former coins, while “halfpence” is used particularly for monetary amounts.
"The shopkeeper charged three halfpence for the postage stamp."
A coin worth barely half a penny once had enough everyday importance to become part of the language of thrift.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does halfpenny come from?
“Halfpenny” is an English compound formed from “half” and “penny,” the latter continuing Old English “penning.” The compound developed during the Middle English period and initially referred to a coin worth half a penny. Its components belong to a family of English words connected with the penny, including “pennyworth” and “penniless.”
Related word forms
How halfpenny is actually used
The word is now chiefly historical and is most familiar in Britain. In the plural, halfpennies normally refers to the coins, while halfpence is commonly used for monetary amounts.