pittance
Noun
Hard difficulty
What does “pittance” mean?
noun.a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage.
SAT Usage
this term is often used in contexts discussing socioeconomic issues, labor, or financial hardship. It emphasizes the inadequacy and often unfairness of compensation, suggesting a disparity between effort and reward, which distinguishes it from terms like "salary" or "wage" that do not carry the same connotation of insufficiency.
Common Confusions
Pittance implies an inadequate or meager payment, while stipend usually suggests a more reasonable and fixed payment for services or support.
Do not choose pittance if the context emphasizes a large sum or generous payment rather than a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage.
Example Sentences
-
He worked twelve-hour days for a pittance.