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

In 1937, 90 per cent of Americans described themselves as regular newspaper readers. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

The penalty weighed heavily on Bank of America's earnings, cutting income by 17 cents a share. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Newsletter readers receive a twenty-per-cent discount on tickets to this event with the code BOOKS20. — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

For example, Reese's Halloween shapes cost about 55 cents per ounce at Target, compared with 41 cents per ounce at Costco, according to the price comparison. — Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 14 Oct. 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"