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

The price drop was noticeable by the weekend, as a 14-cent difference had settled in by Saturday morning. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

Florida gas prices spiked 14 cents last week but most of the price increase disappeared by Sunday. —Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Sixty per cent, so far, were in favor of an invisibility cape made from lenticular lenses. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Our state gas tax went up last July to about 48 cents per gallon, and it’s set to go up again this July. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 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"