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

Indeed, according to a recent poll, more than thirty per cent of respondents who voted for Mamdani cited his social-media presence and videos as a deciding factor. —Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

Analysts had anticipated a loss of 7 cents per share. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025

Michigan gas prices rose, up 10 cents from a week ago, despite declines in demand and oil prices, according to AAA. —Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025

The program, a cornerstone of California’s efforts to fight climate change, has raised roughly $33 billion for environmental programs by forcing large polluters to pay for carbon emissions while adding about 23 cents to the price of a gallon of gasoline in the state. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 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"