percentage
noun
per·cent·age
pər-ˈsen-tij 
1
a
: a part of a whole expressed in hundredths
a high percentage of students attended
b
: the result obtained by multiplying a number by a percent
the percentage equals the rate times the base
2
3
: an indeterminate part : proportion
4
a
b
: favorable odds
Examples of percentage in a Sentence
If a goalie saves 96 out of 100 shots, his save percentage is 96 percent.
The percentages of women completing high school and college were 95 percent and 52 percent, respectively.
What percentage of your income do you spend on rent?
Recent Examples on the Web
Memphis singles capital of Tennessee Memphis had the highest percentage of single people among Tennessee's three largest cities.
—
Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 9 Feb. 2026
Thiesse, who had the best shooting percentage of any player over the first three days of competition, made a great shot for three to tie the game in the fifth end.
—Duluth News Tribune, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Whether the Pac-12 has a higher percentage of football games on linear TV or is collecting a few million more per school is secondary to the continued existence of two major college football conferences in the western third of the country for at least the next four or five years.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
This operational reality matters as much as the tip percentage itself.
—Ricardo Cici, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percentage
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Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 9 Feb. 2026
Thiesse, who had the best shooting percentage of any player over the first three days of competition, made a great shot for three to tie the game in the fifth end.
—Duluth News Tribune, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Whether the Pac-12 has a higher percentage of football games on linear TV or is collecting a few million more per school is secondary to the continued existence of two major college football conferences in the western third of the country for at least the next four or five years.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
This operational reality matters as much as the tip percentage itself.
—Ricardo Cici, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percentage
Cite this Entry
“Percentage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentage. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
percentage
noun
per·cent·age
pər-ˈsent-ij
1
a
: a part of a whole expressed in hundredths
a high percentage of students attended
b
: the result obtained by multiplying a number by a percent
the percentage equals the rate times the base
2
a
: probability sense 3a
play the percentages
b
: favorable odds
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