percentile
noun
per·cen·tile
pər-ˈsen-ˌtī(-ə)l 
: 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
Both his average fastball velocity (99.3) and the extension that the 6-3 right-hander gets in his delivery rank in the 98th percentile, per Statcast.
—
Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
This would bring pay rates from the 53rd percentile to the 63rd percentile, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – still modest by any labor market standard, but a necessary step to stop losses and maintain operational continuity across the sector.
—Brian Cusack, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
Holiday was in the 79th percentile — and ranked even higher in each of the previous six seasons.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
That extreme aridity has applied in particular to the Central Valley, where much of the state’s agriculture occurs, as well as in southern areas — where some spots have endured their driest 10th percentile on record, the data showed.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for percentile
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.
Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
This would bring pay rates from the 53rd percentile to the 63rd percentile, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – still modest by any labor market standard, but a necessary step to stop losses and maintain operational continuity across the sector.
—Brian Cusack, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
Holiday was in the 79th percentile — and ranked even higher in each of the previous six seasons.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
That extreme aridity has applied in particular to the Central Valley, where much of the state’s agriculture occurs, as well as in southern areas — where some spots have endured their driest 10th percentile on record, the data showed.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for percentile
Cite this Entry
“Percentile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentile. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
percentile
noun
per·cen·tile
pər-ˈsen-ˌtīl
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share