cent

1 of 3

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

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

Noun

On July 1, California’s gas and diesel excise tax will increase to 61.2 cents per gallon from the current rate of 59.6 cents per gallon, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025

Jefferies Financial – The investment bank's stock fell more than 2% on the heels of its second-quarter earnings of 40 cents per share, missing the 44 cents per share that analysts polled by FactSet had sought. —Sean Conlon, CNBC, 25 June 2025

Mastercard today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 76 cents per share. —Dividend Channel, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Florida on Monday was $3.10 — 15 cents higher than on June 16, according to travel club AAA’s weekly gas price update. —Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

Noun

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

Noun

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