cent

noun

ˈsent 

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

Examples of cent in a Sentence

A dime is worth 10 cents.

Recent Examples on the Web

The average is 27 cents less than a week ago, 72 cents less than a month ago and 69 cents more than this time last year. —Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026

Sales tax revenues are expected to be higher as well, driven by an $11 million revenue bump from a half-cent state sales tax for public safety. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

More than thirty per cent of its permanent residents were born abroad. —Jessi Jezewska Stevens, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Commissioners did, however, vote to ask the North Carolina General Assembly for permission to levy a quarter-cent sales tax specifically for Gaston County Schools. —Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cent

• Euro cent
• not one red cent
• per cent
• red cent

Rhymes for cent

• bent
• blent
• ent
• fent
• lent
• meant
• pent
• rent
• rente
• scent
• sent
• spent

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

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