sixpence
noun
six·pence
ˈsiks-pən(t)s 
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
De Hales left Basilia, gave up his shop, and sold all of his possessions, including two feather beds, and some pots and utensils worth two shillings and sixpence.
—
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
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
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near sixpence
Cite this Entry
“Sixpence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sixpence. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sixpence
noun
six·pence
ˈsik-spən(t)s
U.S. also -ˌspen(t)s
1
: the sum of six pence
2
plural sixpence or sixpences
: a coin representing six pence
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