quintile

noun

quin·​tile ˈkwin-ˌtī(-ə)l 

: any of the four values that divide the items of a frequency distribution into five classes with each containing one fifth of the total population

also : any one of the five classes

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Breaking Down the Meaning of Quintile

Many people have a deep interest in statistics about themselves, whether the information provided is about income, ice-cream consumption, or trash production. And any such rating can be divided into fifths, or quintiles. The fifth or lowest quintile would include the 20 percent of the population who make the least money or eat the least ice cream or generate the least trash, and the first quintile would include the 20 percent who make, eat, or generate the most.

Examples of quintile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The middle quintile, those making $80,000 yearly, paid 13% of their income. —Ryan Ellis, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025

High quality names include those that are in the top two quintiles for quality, while bond proxies or defensive yield plays include real estate investment trusts, railroad and transport infrastructure. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025

For the middle quintile of earners, the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates the annual loss in post-tax income would amount to $1,200. —Tiana Lowe Doescher, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025

These names are Russell 3000 stocks that are in the top quintile for low volatility and buybacks. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin quintus + English -ile entry 2

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quintile

• lintel
• pintle
• quintal