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cent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

A2 (Common)
UK/sent/US/sɛnt/

Neutral to formal in financial contexts; casual when referring to small amounts.

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Quick answer

What does “cent” mean?

The hundredth part of a monetary unit, especially a dollar or euro.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The hundredth part of a monetary unit, especially a dollar or euro.

A unit of value equal to 1/100th of a base currency; a very small amount.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

While 'cent' is used in both US English (for dollars) and UK English (for euros, though the UK historically used pence), the UK's traditional subdivision was the penny (p). The term is more native to US currency contexts.

Connotations

In the US, strongly associated with physical coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter). In the UK, it's primarily associated with the euro currency.

Frequency

Higher frequency in US English due to daily currency use. Lower frequency in UK English except in international/EU financial contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “cent” in a Sentence

cost (number) centsworth (number) centsgive (someone) (my) two cents

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
per centone centtwo centswortheuro cent
medium
not a centevery centsave a centput in my two cents
weak
red centsingle centfifty-cent piece

Examples

Examples of “cent” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adverb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adjective

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

"The transaction fee is just five cents per trade."

Academic

"The index moved up by point two per cent."

Everyday

"Do you have fifty cents for the parking meter?"

Technical

"The microcontroller can measure voltage to within a hundredth of a centivolt."

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cent”

Strong

hundredth

Neutral

penny (for 1 cent US coin)coinmonetary unit

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cent”

dollareurofortunesignificant amount

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cent”

  • Using plural 'cents' as singular (e.g., 'It costs one cents'). Confusing spelling: 'sent' vs. 'cent'. Incorrect preposition: 'cents of a dollar' instead of 'cents on the dollar'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but primarily in the context of the euro (euro cent) or international finance, not for traditional British currency.

In the US, 'penny' is the informal name for the one-cent coin itself, while 'cent' is the official unit of currency. They refer to the same value.

With the currency symbol: $0.05 or 5¢. In spoken English, you say "five cents."

Yes, etymologically. 'Per cent' comes from Latin 'per centum' meaning 'by the hundred'. 'Cent' as a coin is also from Latin 'centum' for 'hundred'.

The hundredth part of a monetary unit, especially a dollar or euro.

Cent is usually neutral to formal in financial contexts; casual when referring to small amounts. in register.

Cent: in British English it is pronounced /sent/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɛnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “put in your two cents”
  • “not worth a red cent”
  • “not one cent”
  • “a penny for your thoughts (related)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

CENTury is 100 years; a CENT is 1/100th of a dollar.

Conceptual Metaphor

MONEY IS A MEASURABLE RESOURCE / UNIMPORTANT THINGS ARE WORTHLESS COINS.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The old car isn't worth a cent after the accident.
Multiple Choice

What does the idiom 'put in my two cents' mean?

cent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore