Percentile
/pərˈsɛntaɪl/
Definitions
A value below which a given percentage of observations in a group of observations fall.
/pərˈsɛntaɪl/
A value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it.
The company wants to be in the top 10th percentile of customer satisfaction.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're in a race with 100 people. If you finish in the 90th percentile, that means you did better than 90 out of the 100 racers! It's a way of comparing where you stand compared to everyone else.
👶 For kids: Imagine you're in a class of 100 kids. If you're in the 25th percentile for height, it means 25 kids are shorter than you, and 75 are taller!
More Examples
He scored in the 80th percentile on the aptitude test, indicating a high level of skill.
The doctor tracked the baby's weight percentile to ensure healthy development.
How It's Used
"The student scored in the 90th percentile on the standardized test."
"A child's growth chart shows their height and weight percentiles relative to other children of the same age."
"The top 10% earners are often discussed in relation to wealth distribution, such as a 90th percentile income."
From the Latin "per" (by) and "centum" (hundred), and the suffix "-ile" (indicating belonging or relation). It relates to the concept of dividing a distribution into 100 equal parts.
The concept of percentiles has been used in statistical analysis and measurement for over a century, evolving alongside the development of statistical theory and application.
Memory tip
Think of dividing a hundred things into groups. If someone is in the 75th percentile, they're better than 75% of the group.
Word Origin
"per (by or for each) + centum (hundred) + -ile (belonging or related to)"