per cent

Three per cent of the pie chart is highlighted in blue.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A proportion in relation to a hundred: "per cent" (often written as "percent") denotes a fraction or ratio expressed as a number of parts per one hundred. It is used to indicate a portion of a whole, typically with a numerical value.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Only ten per cent of the population voted in the election. (A tenth of the total number of people.)
  • The interest rate increased by half a per cent. (An increase of 0.5% in the rate.)
  • She scored 95 per cent on the exam. (She achieved 95 out of 100 possible points.)

Advanced Usage

• "one hundred per cent": completely or entirely.
  • I am one hundred per cent committed to this project. (I am fully dedicated.)
• "per cent point": a unit equal to one per cent, often used in financial contexts.
  • The inflation rate rose by two per cent points. (An increase of 2% in the rate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Percent (n, adj): the more common spelling of "per cent"; used interchangeably.
  • The discount is 20 percent off the original price. (A reduction of 20 parts per hundred.)
• Percentage (n): a rate, number, or amount in each hundred.
  • The percentage of students passing the test was high. (The proportion expressed as a figure per hundred.)
• Percentile (n): a value below which a given percentage of observations fall.
  • Her score was in the 90th percentile. (She performed better than 90% of others.)

Synonyms

• Fraction: a numerical representation of a part of a whole.
• Proportion: a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.
• Rate: a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against some other quantity or measure.

Related Idioms

• "give a hundred per cent": to put in maximum effort.
  • The team gave a hundred per cent in the final match. (They exerted full effort.)
• "not a per cent": (informal) not at all; none.
  • I don't care a per cent about that issue. (I have no concern whatsoever.)