cent

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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

Some stores have begun running short of pennies and have had to round cash transactions up or down to the nearest five cents when customers don’t have exact change, USA TODAY reported. —George Petras, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

Every cent will go to the Elsa McGrain Legacy Fund, which is dedicated to continuing her impact through acts of care and opportunity in her name. —Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025

The last coin to be discontinued was the half-cent in 1857, Beach said. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025

However, some experts are skeptical that the dollars and cents make sense, even with parameters on income. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 12 Nov. 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"