pin money
noun
1
a
dated
: money given by a man to a woman in his family (such as his wife or daughter) for her own use
… when a New York girl wanted some pin money, she telegraphed to her father, and he sent it up in a wagon.—
Howard Bronson
Howard Bronson
b
: money set aside for the purchase of incidentals
It will take all my pin money for a month. No more soda water for a while, unless someone treats me.—Amy Ellen Blanchard
Amy Ellen Blanchard2
: a trivial amount of money
And Joe said that even if there had been a risk, ten thousand would have been pin money to a man in Bruce's position.—Susan Isaacs
Susan IsaacsExamples of pin money in a Sentence
She had a babysitting job to earn pin money.
the summer intern made only pin money but gained valuable work experience
Recent Examples on the Web
At Mexican weddings, everyone who dances with the bride or groom is expected to pin money on their outfit, a celebratory gesture that contributes to the newlyweds’ honeymoon and other wedding expenses.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
At Mexican weddings, everyone who dances with the bride or groom is expected to pin money on their outfit, a celebratory gesture that contributes to the newlyweds’ honeymoon and other wedding expenses.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
While the couple slow dances, guests pin money onto their clothes as a sign of prosperity.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 4 Nov. 2023
Status quo ante, plus pin money for his palaces?
—Nr Editors, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
At the end, there's a celebration where all of the guests throw or pin money onto the bride and groom as an offering to them.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2020
Bonnie and Andrea pocket around $100 a month for spending two hours a week taking surveys, which gives each of them extra pin money.
—Maria Carter, Woman's Day, 22 May 2017
Pomaks eat, pin money on the bride and groom, and dance the traditional houra in the village square.
—Guy Martin, National Geographic, 27 Apr. 2016
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Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
At Mexican weddings, everyone who dances with the bride or groom is expected to pin money on their outfit, a celebratory gesture that contributes to the newlyweds’ honeymoon and other wedding expenses.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
While the couple slow dances, guests pin money onto their clothes as a sign of prosperity.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 4 Nov. 2023
Status quo ante, plus pin money for his palaces?
—Nr Editors, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
At the end, there's a celebration where all of the guests throw or pin money onto the bride and groom as an offering to them.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2020
Bonnie and Andrea pocket around $100 a month for spending two hours a week taking surveys, which gives each of them extra pin money.
—Maria Carter, Woman's Day, 22 May 2017
Pomaks eat, pin money on the bride and groom, and dance the traditional houra in the village square.
—Guy Martin, National Geographic, 27 Apr. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Pin money.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pin%20money. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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