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
3
: an indeterminate part : proportion
4
a
b
: favorable 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
Then there’s the school of thought that doing it right means having the highest percentage of successful challenges.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Glenn Guttman, a property tax attorney whose business runs on receiving a percentage of successful property tax appeal refunds, said industry colleagues considered taking the treasurer to court but ultimately decided against it.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Overall revenues are 15% ahead of the same point in 2025, according to Comscore — a percentage that’s dropped from a few weeks ago when ticket sales were 23% above last year.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
The Dodgers’ bullpen has blown five saves in 12 opportunities and has the fifth-worst save percentage in the National League.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percentage
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Zack Meisel, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Glenn Guttman, a property tax attorney whose business runs on receiving a percentage of successful property tax appeal refunds, said industry colleagues considered taking the treasurer to court but ultimately decided against it.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Overall revenues are 15% ahead of the same point in 2025, according to Comscore — a percentage that’s dropped from a few weeks ago when ticket sales were 23% above last year.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
The Dodgers’ bullpen has blown five saves in 12 opportunities and has the fifth-worst save percentage in the National League.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percentage
Cite this Entry
“Percentage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentage. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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