Cent
/sɛnt/
nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A unit of currency equal to one-hundredth of a dollar.
/sɛnt/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A small unit of currency.
I found a shiny penny (a cent) on the sidewalk.
💡 Simply: A cent is like a tiny coin, a hundred of them make a dollar! Imagine buying a candy for just one cent!
👶 For kids: A tiny coin!
More Examples
2
The candy bar cost 25 cents.
How It's Used
Finance
"The coin is worth one cent."
Everyday Conversation
"It only costs a few cents."
From Old French *cent, from Latin centum "hundred". Originally representing one-hundredth of a Roman monetary unit, its modern usage reflects its value as a small monetary unit.
The cent has maintained a relatively consistent value and usage throughout American history, though its purchasing power has changed significantly.
Memory tip
Think 'century' - 100 years, just like 100 cents make a dollar.
Practice
Base: cent
scentsent
Usage
80%Spoken
70%Written