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

While nothing is set in stone, the City Council will vote to put either a one-eighth-cent, a fourth-cent, or three-eighths cent tax before voters. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

The 5-cent coin is currently made from both nickel and copper, which is more expensive than zinc. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

But, as the city built new schools, enrollment dropped by more than forty per cent. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

In previous periods when prices were able to maintain levels above 100 cents/lb (2010//11 and 2021/22), downstream demand was reacting to whipsawing macroeconomic conditions. — Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 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"