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

Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax, or COMBAT, is a quarter-cent sales tax that generates about $30 million each year. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026

Analysts expect the company to post earnings of 9 cents per share on sales of $531 million, according to FactSet. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

That budget also included a 50-cent increase in Metrorail fares. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

The forecast range for current quarter earnings came in at 46 cents to 50 cents per share, versus the FactSet consensus for 49 cents per share. — Davis Giangiulio,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 27 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"