Percentage

Definition

Percentage is a noun that refers to a proportion or share expressed as a fraction of 100. It is commonly used in mathematics, finance, and statistics to represent ratios, rates, and comparisons.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pərˈsɛn.tɪdʒ/, /pɚˈsɛn.tɪdʒ/
• Respelling: per-SEN-tij

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pəˈsɛn.tɪdʒ/, /pɜːˈsɛn.tɪdʒ/
• Respelling: puh-SEN-tij

Etymology

The word "percentage" originates from the Latin "per centum," meaning "by the hundred." It entered English in the late 15th century via Middle French, with the suffix "-age" added to indicate a share or portion.

Derivatives

• Percent (noun)
• Percentile (noun)
• Percentage-wise (adverb)
• Overpercentage (noun, rare)
• Underpercentage (noun, rare)

Synonyms

• Proportion
• Rate
• Fraction

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "percentage" is frequently used to describe parts of a whole. Examples include "The percentage of students passing the exam increased this year" and "She earned a high percentage on her test."

Related Terms

• Ratio: A quantitative relationship between two numbers.
• Fraction: A numerical representation of part of a whole.
• Decimal: A representation of numbers in the base-10 system.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A proportion expressed as a fraction of 100: Used in mathematics and statistics to represent ratios.
  • Example: "50% represents half of a whole."
• A share or part of a total: Describes a portion of something relative to its entirety.
  • Example: "The company allocates a large percentage of its revenue to research."
• An implied level of success or achievement: Used figuratively to indicate a degree or extent.
  • Example: "The team gave their best effort, achieving a high percentage of success."