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

When former President Joe Biden released around 180 million barrels of oil in 2022, gas prices fell between just 13 and 31 cents a gallon over four months, the Treasury Department reported. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Jan. 2026

Goldman Sachs expects the transaction to result in a 46 cents per share increase to its 2025 fourth-quarter earnings. —Michelle Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

The pennies could start flowing again, perhaps easing a shortage in some markets, after the Federal Reserve announced an upcoming shift in the distribution system of old 1-cent coins. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 8 Jan. 2026

The $25 upgrade from the Enchant Key to the Explore Key works out to about 76 cents a day for access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on those 33 extra days of summer. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 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"