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

The Catalan club’s reported income for 2024-25 was €985million — up 29 per cent from the previous financial year. —Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 1 June 2026

As a result of the most recent decline in oil prices, the cost of retail gasoline was down 24 cents on Monday from this year’s peak. —Steve Kopack, NBC news, 1 June 2026

The difference is just a few cents — that's how much summer rates increase with warmer weather. —Elle Meyers, CBS News, 1 June 2026

The Rocklin City Council has introduced an ordinance that would place a measure on the November 2026 ballot asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax increase. —Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 June 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"