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
Don’t be surprised if the Rams use a large percentage of their cap space extending standout receiver Puka Nacua, who is entering the final season of his rookie deal.
—
Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
His 3-point percentage has improved every month, starting at 25 percent in October and improving to 34 percent in November, 38 percent in December, 40 percent in January and 49 percent in February.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Gas prices are regressive — meaning lower-income people are more likely to spend a higher percentage of their money on fuel than affluent Americans.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Chan, Yale’s Samson Frey, Quinnipiac’s Felicia Frank and Sacred Heart’s Jillian Petruno are all in the top seven in the nation in save percentage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percentage
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Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
His 3-point percentage has improved every month, starting at 25 percent in October and improving to 34 percent in November, 38 percent in December, 40 percent in January and 49 percent in February.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Gas prices are regressive — meaning lower-income people are more likely to spend a higher percentage of their money on fuel than affluent Americans.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Chan, Yale’s Samson Frey, Quinnipiac’s Felicia Frank and Sacred Heart’s Jillian Petruno are all in the top seven in the nation in save percentage.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 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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