What does "pint" mean?
A unit of volume, equivalent to:; one eighth of a gallon, specifically:; 20 fluid ounces, approximately 568 millilitres (an imperial pint).
Pint
/paɪnt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A unit of volume, equivalent to:; one eighth of a gallon, specifically:; 20 fluid ounces, approximately 568 millilitres (an imperial pint).
- Grammar: pint is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: beer, beer glass, drink, dry pint.
- Useful contrasts: bottle, can, dry measure.
- Usage evidence: If you've never had a pint of Guinness in a real Irish pub, I highly recommend it.
How to use "pint"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pint" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pint" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pint" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pint" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pint" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "beer" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pint", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A unit of volume, equivalent to:; one eighth of a gallon, specifically:; 20 fluid ounces, approximately 568 millilitres (an imperial pint). Commonwealth, UK
- 2 a United States liquid unit equal to 16 fluid ounces; two pints equal one quart wordnet
- 3 A unit of volume, equivalent to:; one eighth of a gallon, specifically:; one half quart.; 16 US fluid ounces [473 millilitres] for liquids (a US liquid pint) or US
- 4 a United States dry unit equal to 0.5 quart or 33.6 cubic inches wordnet
- 5 A unit of volume, equivalent to:; one eighth of a gallon, specifically:; one half quart.; approximately 33.6 cubic inches [550.6 cubic centimeters] for dry goods (a US dry pint). US
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 gills or 568.26 cubic centimeters wordnet
- 7 A unit of volume, equivalent to:; 1.696 liters.
- 8 A unit of volume, equivalent to:; 12 fluid ounces.
"The prices of the second class are given by the ounce; thus […] for a pint, of 12 ounces;"
- 9 A pint of milk. British, metonymically
"Please leave three pints tomorrow, milkman."
- 10 A glass of beer or cider, served by the pint. UK, metonymically
"A couple of pints please, barman."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Dutch.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"If you've never had a pint of Guinness in a real Irish pub, I highly recommend it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pint"?
Common synonyms include: beer, beer glass, drink, dry pint, liquid measure, measure.
How do you use "pint" in a sentence?
If you've never had a pint of Guinness in a real Irish pub, I highly recommend it.
How do you pronounce "pint"?
Pronounced /paɪnt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English pinte, from Old French pinte, assumed from Vulgar Latin *pincta (“a mark used to indicate a level of quantity against a larger measure”), from Latin picta (“painted”), from Latin pingō (“paint”, verb). Doublet of pinto and Pinto.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Dutch Pint, a metonymic occupational surname for an official who controlled measures.