WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pen′ny an′te,
- Games[Cards.]a game of poker in which the ante or basic bet is one cent.
- Informal Termsany business arrangement or transaction involving a trifling or paltry sum of money.
- 1850–55, American.
- Informal Termsinvolving a trifling sum of money;
small in amount:a penny-ante investment. - Informal Termsinconsiderable;
minor;
small-time.
- 1930–35, American.