percentile

noun

per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtī(-ə)l How to pronounce percentile (audio)
: a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
a score in the 95th percentile

Examples of percentile in a Sentence

His height and weight are in the 80th percentile for boys his age.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The report also notes that the 25th percentile of small businesses had fewer than 13 cash buffer days. Michael Shribman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 Last season, the data from his Premier League performances places him in the 90th percentile or above (10 per cent or fewer performed better than him) for progressive carries, carries into the opposition’s final third, chances created from attacking set-pieces, aerial duels won and blocked shots. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 11 June 2026 Harvard also plans to use an internal percentile ranking for honors and prizes. Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Over 56% of middle-income households in the 40th to 59th income percentiles carry a balance. Ali Besharat, The Conversation, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for percentile

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of percentile was in 1885

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Cite this Entry

“Percentile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentile. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

percentile

noun
per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtīl How to pronounce percentile (audio)
: a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
a percentile score of 95 is a score equal to or better than 95 percent of the scores

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