cent

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noun

ˈsent 

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

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abbreviation (1)

1

centigrade

2

central

3

centum

4

century

Cent

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abbreviation (2)

Central

Examples of cent in a Sentence

Noun

A dime is worth 10 cents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

PredictIt tells a different story: Harris has overtaken Trump, with shares priced at 55 cents (55 percent chance) to Trump's 51 cents. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative. —David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

But in 2009 ninety-five per cent of all BMK being produced was going to the Middle East. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Trump’s winning contract is now priced at 51 cents, down from 60 cents on Tuesday. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

Noun

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cent

• euro cent
• not one red cent
• per cent
• red cent

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"