Standard Lemma guide

threepence

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈθɹʌpəns/
  • /ˈθɹɪpəns/
  • /ˈθɹɛpəns/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US, also: /ˈθɹiːpɛns/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • thrĭpʹəns
  • thrĕpʹəns
  • thrŭpʹəns
  • rhymes with -ʌpəns

1

noun

Meaning 1

The amount of money equal to that of three pence (old or new).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A former (pre-decimalisation) British or Irish coin worth three old pence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: threepenny bit, thruppence

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

former cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom equal to three pennies

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: coin

History

Etymology

From three + pence.