Cent Meaning: Definition and Examples

Meaning 1：one cent (cent)

cent 🔊

/sɛnt/

A very small unit of money. One hundred cents make one dollar.

one cent 🔊

➕

/wʌn sɛnt/

A cent is a monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a dollar. It is the smallest denomination in many currencies, including the US dollar.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：beginner

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'centum' meaning hundred. One cent = 1/100 of a dollar.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'cent' as 'century' - both share the root meaning of hundred.

📖 Example

The price tag on the candy bar read 99￠, meaning ninety-nine cents. 🔊 The price tag on the candy bar read 99￠, meaning ninety-nine cents.

🔗 Collocations

a dollar and cents – a phrase meaning practical and financial aspects

cent per gallon – a unit price for fuel measured in cents per gallon

fifty cents – a common coin denomination equal to half a dollar

🔄 Synonyms

penny (n.) – a one-cent coin in the US and Canada

centime (n.) – a cent equivalent in franc-based currencies

copper (n.) – informal term for a penny coin, often made of copper

🚫 Antonyms

dollar (n.) – one hundred cents, the larger base unit

bill (n.) – paper currency of higher value than a coin

🌱 Derivatives

percent (n.) – a proportion per hundred

century (n.) – a period of one hundred years

centimeter (n.) – a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'cent' comes from Latin 'centum' meaning hundred. In 1792, the U.S. adopted the decimal monetary system, making the cent 1/100 of a dollar.