cent

1 of 3

noun

ˈsent How to pronounce cent (audio)
1
: a monetary unit equal to 1/100 of a basic unit of value (such as dollar, euro, rand) see birr, dollar, euro, leone, lilangeni, nakfa, rand, rupee, shilling at Money Table
2
: a coin, token, or note representing one cent
3
: the fen of the People's Republic of China

cent

2 of 3

abbreviation (1)

1
centigrade
2
central
3
centum
4
century

Cent

3 of 3

abbreviation (2)

Central

Examples of cent in a Sentence

Noun A dime is worth 10 cents.
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.
Noun
Zero would mean exactly the same players playing exactly the same share of minutes; 100 per cent reflects an entirely new team. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 Suffice it to say that the Kittrells could probably have negotiated much better deals with their creditors than 100 cents on the dollar. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Studies show that the disease occurs in up to three per cent of pregnancies, though the real incidence may be higher, according to the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation (HER). — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 The initial proposal would raise I-Pass passenger vehicle tolls from on average 7 cents to 11 cents a mile, or 57%, and truckers would see a 30% jump. — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

Noun

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cent was in 1782

Phrases Containing cent

Rhymes for cent

See All Rhymes for cent

Browse Nearby Words

census tract
cent
Cent
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Cite this Entry

“Cent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cent. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cent

noun
ˈsent
1
: a unit of value equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ part of a basic unit of money (as of a dollar or euro)
2
: a coin or bill representing one cent
Etymology

Noun

from early French cent "hundred," from Latin centum "hundred"

More from Merriam-Webster on cent

Nglish: Translation of cent for Spanish Speakers

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