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Definition of sixpence

sixpence

/ˈsɪkspəns/
six · pence
Plural:sixpences
•
Adjective:sixpenny
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sixpence Lexical Profile

sixpence Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A former British coin worth six old pence (half a shilling), minted from 1551 until decimalization in 1971, or the monetary sum of six pence.

Example

"My grandmother tucked a lucky silver sixpence into the bride's shoe before the wedding ceremony."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sixpence

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to the sum of money, the plural remains unchanged as "sixpence", whereas when referring to multiple physical coins, the plural is "sixpences".

• Nearby Words

sixish
sixline wrasse
sixpack
sixpence
sixteen
sixteenfold
sixteenth

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 16th century as a compound of "six" and "pence" (the collective plural of "penny"), coinciding with the first minting of the silver sixpenny coin under King Edward VI in 1551.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sixpence. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sixpence
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