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

a

: a share of winnings or profits

b

: advantage, profit

no percentage in going around looking like an old sack of laundry

—Wallace Stegner

3

: an indeterminate part : proportion

4

a

: probability

b

: favorable odds

Synonyms of percentage

• probability
• 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

Just over 1 in 10 Americans lived below the poverty line in 2025, the Census Bureau found, a half-percentage-point drop since 2024. — Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026

Wool makes up a tiny percentage of fashion’s fiber basket, and in sustainability circles, it is often touted as a perfect playground for better farming practices, and a natural alternative to synthetic performance fabrics. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2026

Toney barely played in the second halves of those games, yet Miami still leads the nation in yards per game, yards per play, completion percentage and first downs per game. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

High-yield savings accounts The annual percentage yields in high-yield savings accounts are also typically tied to the federal funds rate, although other factors could weigh in, such as the bank's deposit demand. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing percentage

• fielding percentage
• no percentage
• on-base percentage
• percentage point
• slugging percentage

Rhymes for percentage

• centage

Kids 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