percentage

noun

per·​cent·​age pər-ˈsen-tij 

1

a

: a part of a whole expressed in hundredths

a high percentage of students attended

b

: the result obtained by multiplying a number by a percent

the percentage equals the rate times the base

2

a

: a share of winnings or profits

b

: advantage, profit

no percentage in going around looking like an old sack of laundry

—Wallace Stegner

3

: an indeterminate part : proportion

4

a

: probability

b

: favorable odds

Synonyms of percentage

• probability
• odds

Examples of percentage in a Sentence

If a goalie saves 96 out of 100 shots, his save percentage is 96 percent.

The percentages of women completing high school and college were 95 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

What percentage of your income do you spend on rent?

Recent Examples on the Web

Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver. —Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026

The 29-year-old has increased his scoring average from last season while shooting a significantly higher percentage from 2-point land. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026

Dozens of shocking examples Kim Stone, lobbyist for the California District Attorneys Association, agreed that only a small percentage of people given diversion go on to commit violent crimes. —Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026

Still, both stocks have swung wildly, rising and falling by double-digit percentages in single sessions. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing percentage

• fielding percentage
• no percentage
• on-base percentage
• percentage point
• slugging percentage

Rhymes for percentage

• centage

Kids Definition

percentage

noun

per·​cent·​age pər-ˈsent-ij 

1

a

: a part of a whole expressed in hundredths

a high percentage of students attended

b

: the result obtained by multiplying a number by a percent

the percentage equals the rate times the base

2

a

: probability sense 3a

play the percentages

b

: favorable odds