cent

1 of 3

noun

ˈsent How to pronounce cent (audio)
1
: a monetary unit equal to 1/100 of a basic unit of value (such as dollar, euro, rand) see birr, dollar, euro, leone, lilangeni, nakfa, rand, rupee, shilling at Money Table
2
: a coin, token, or note representing one cent
3
: the fen of the People's Republic of China

cent

2 of 3

abbreviation (1)

1
centigrade
2
central
3
centum
4
century

Cent

3 of 3

abbreviation (2)

Central

Examples of cent in a Sentence

Noun A dime is worth 10 cents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The recent run-up in gasoline futures indicates prices will rise another 10 to 25 cents over the next week. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 The airline is forecast to earn 64 cents a share this year, on an adjusted basis, which would be up almost 80% from last year, according to analyst estimates. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026 In South Korea, almost eighty per cent of children regularly attend a hagwon—a private-tutoring center that supplements their schooling and prepares them for tests—which means that many kids are spending up to twelve hours a day in a classroom. — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 19 July 2026 The proposal would increase the county’s sales tax by three-eighths of a cent to fund wildfire prevention, fire protection and healthcare access, with 50% of net revenues slated for local hospitals. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

Noun

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cent was in 1782

Phrases Containing cent

Rhymes for cent

See All Rhymes for cent

Browse Nearby Words

census tract
cent
Cent
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Cite this Entry

“Cent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cent. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cent

noun
ˈsent
1
: a unit of value equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ part of a basic unit of money (as of a dollar or euro)
2
: a coin or bill representing one cent
Etymology

Noun

from early French cent "hundred," from Latin centum "hundred"

More from Merriam-Webster on cent

Nglish: Translation of cent for Spanish Speakers

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