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.
At no point in 2026, per the Atlanta Fed, has median wage growth for the bottom percentile of earners exceeded that of the top percentile. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 For middle-income Americans, those in the 40th to 60th percentile by income, the median retirement plan held just $39,000, and nearly half of that group had no retirement savings. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 The big centre turns 31 in October, but last season his max foot speed was in the 92nd percentile, according to NHL Edge. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Pixar cuts are numbered to be in the high single percentile of its 1,100 staff, which translates to around or under 100 pink-slips. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 July 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

Rhymes for percentile

See All Rhymes for percentile

Browse Nearby Words

percentagewise
percentile
percent sign
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Cite this Entry

“Percentile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentile. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on percentile

Nglish: Translation of percentile for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about percentile

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