What does pint mean?
A pint is a unit for measuring liquid, most often encountered in relation to beer and other drinks. In the United States, a liquid pint equals 16 US fluid ounces, or about 473 millilitres; in the United Kingdom and other countries using the imperial system, it equals 20 imperial fluid ounces, or about 568 millilitres. The word also names the quantity of drink served in a pint glass and, informally, a pint of beer. Expressions such as “a pint of bitter,” “a half-pint,” and “pint-sized” are common in pub and everyday contexts. Although the measurement varies across countries, the word is recognizable in both British and American English and carries a particularly strong association with pub culture. Its unusual history also makes it memorable: the name is connected with an earlier painted mark used to indicate the contents of a vessel.
nounA unit of liquid measure equal to 16 US fluid ounces in the United States or 20 imperial fluid ounces in the United Kingdom and other countries using the imperial system. By extension, it refers to a pint of beer or another drink.
- A unit of liquid measure, especially one used for beer, milk, or other drinks.
- An amount of beer or another drink equal to one pint.
- A container holding one pint of liquid, especially a drinking glass.
"He ordered a pint of bitter and carried it to a table by the window."
"The brewery produces four pints of seasonal ale each week."
"A half-pint of cider was waiting beside the newspaper."
The regular plural is “pints.” It is used for countable quantities, containers, or servings: “two pints of milk,” “a set of six pint glasses.”
"They ordered two pints of stout before the match began."
A pint began as a painted mark on a vessel: the name preserves the old idea of using a painted line to indicate how much a container held.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pint come from?
The word entered Middle English through Old French pinte, from a Medieval Latin form ultimately associated with Latin pingere, “to paint.” Its original sense referred to a painted mark or vessel indicating a measure, from which the modern unit developed. Related English words such as paint, pigment, and picture descend from the same Latin root through different historical routes.
Related word forms
How pint is actually used
The exact size of a pint depends on the country and measurement system: a US liquid pint is 16 US fluid ounces, while a UK imperial pint is 20 imperial fluid ounces. In British and Irish English, “a pint” is also a familiar way of referring to a pint of beer, especially in pubs; this usage is less characteristic of American English.