percentage

noun

per·​cent·​age pər-ˈsen-tij How to pronounce percentage (audio)
Synonyms of percentagenext
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 laundryWallace Stegner
3
: an indeterminate part : proportion
4
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
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.
Over the last decade, the Astros have the second-most wins and second-highest winning percentage of any organization at 890-627. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026 The Eagles have won over 75 percent of their faceoffs this season and faceoff specialist Kevin Ratzlaff leads the group with a win percentage of 77 percent. Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 10 May 2026 Carrick has won 57 percent of his faceoffs since joining the Sabres, which is a key stat for a team that is dead last in faceoff percentage in the playoffs after finishing 32nd in that category during the regular season. Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 10 May 2026 Take the nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group, which last month reported a medical loss ratio, which is the percentage of premium revenue that goes toward medical costs, below 85% for the first quarter of this year. Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for percentage

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of percentage was in 1757

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Cite this Entry

“Percentage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentage. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

percentage

noun
per·​cent·​age pər-ˈsent-ij How to pronounce percentage (audio)
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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