Meaning & Definition of word "Percent"

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    Percent

    /pərˈsɛnt/

    noun:

    • 1. A part or other object of a whole, represented in a ratio out of 100.
      • Example: Twenty percent of the class passed the exam with honors.
    • 2. A proportion or fraction that represents a percentage.
      • Example: The company's profits increased by ten percent this year.
    • 3. A measure of a quantity in relation to a total expressed as a fraction of 100.
      • Example: She received a score of 85 percent on her test.

    adjective:

    • 1. Relating to or expressed as a percentage.
      • Example: The percent increase in sales was noted in the quarterly report.
    • 2. Representing a proportion of one hundred.
      • Example: The report outlined percent changes in the budget allocations.

    Etymology

    From Latin 'per centum,' meaning 'by the hundred'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    percent of:

    A specific fraction expressed in relation to 100.

    percent increase:

    A measure of how much a value has increased, expressed as a percentage.

    percent decrease:

    A measure of how much a value has decreased, expressed as a percentage.

    Related Words

    percentage:

    A quantitative expression as a fraction of 100.

    perp:

    Slang for 'percent' in informal contexts.

    Slang Meanings of percent

    Meaning: A way to refer to a portion casually.

    Example Sentence: I got a solid 80 percent on that test!

    Meaning: Used in a hyperbolic sense to express agreement or endorsement.

    Example Sentence: I'm 100 percent on board with this plan.