percentage
puh-SEHN-tihj
Percentage (noun) means a proportion or rate expressed as a number out of one hundred. Example: “What percentage of the budget goes toward marketing?”
noun
1
A proportion or rate expressed as a number out of one hundred.
"What percentage of the budget goes toward marketing?"
"Only a small percentage of applicants were shortlisted."
"A high percentage of the students walk to school each morning."
2
A share of profits, sales, or takings, especially as payment.
"The agent takes a percentage of every deal she closes."
"The waiter earns a small percentage of everything the restaurant takes in tips."
"Our landlord gets a percentage of the shop's weekly sales instead of a fixed rent."
How to use percentage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of measuring how big a part is compared to the whole, out of 100.
Common pairings
a percentage of
small percentage
percentage point
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Word forms
- Plural
- percentages
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What _____ of the budget goes toward marketing?
Etymology
Formed from "percent" plus the suffix -age, indicating a rate or proportion.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for percentage
See all rhymes for percentage →Frequently asked questions
What does “percentage” mean?
The word “percentage” means a proportion or rate expressed as a number out of one hundred. In plain terms, a way of measuring how big a part is compared to the whole, out of 100.
How do you pronounce “percentage”?
“Percentage” is pronounced puh-SEHN-tihj (/pə(ɹ)ˈsɛntɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “percentage” in a sentence?
Here is “percentage” used in a sentence: “What percentage of the budget goes toward marketing?”
What part of speech is “percentage”?
“Percentage” is a noun.
Is “percentage” a common word?
“Percentage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “percentage” have?
“Percentage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a proportion or rate expressed as a number out of one hundred.
What is the difference between percentage and percent?
Percent (or per cent) is used with a specific number and the % sign — '20 percent of students'. Percentage is used without a number, in a more general way — 'a large percentage of students'. In short, you say a number percent, but a percentage when the exact figure is unstated or not the point.
How do you calculate a percentage?
To find what percentage one number is of another, divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100. For example, 30 out of 120 is 30 ÷ 120 = 0.25, then × 100 = 25 percent. To find a percentage of a number, convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 25 percent of 80 is 0.25 × 80 = 20.
What is the difference between a percentage and a percentile?
A percentage is a proportion out of a hundred — a score of 90 percent means 90 correct out of 100. A percentile shows rank: being in the 90th percentile means you scored higher than 90 percent of other people. One measures how much; the other measures how you compare with a group.
What is an example of a percentage?
If 40 out of 50 seats are filled, that is a percentage of 80 percent. A shop offering 25 percent off, a battery at 60 percent, and a 5 percent interest rate all use percentages. Each expresses a proportion as a figure out of one hundred, making different quantities easy to compare.
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