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

An oil industry executive told CNBC's Brian Sullivan that a diesel export ban could raise the price of fuel by 30 cents per gallon. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

Rogers also has proposed suspending the state and federal gas tax of 70 cents a gallon, which the former congressman said would benefit farmers and truckers who are spending more on fuel and passing the costs on to Michiganders. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The gas tax in Massachusetts is 24 cents per gallon and brings in about $600 million in revenue per year to pay for the construction and repair of roads and bridges. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2026

In other words, a quarter made of 90% silver could be worth more for its metal content than its 25-cent denomination. — Nick Perry, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

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"