PERCENT

percentage, percent, per centum, pct

(noun) a proportion in relation to a whole (which is usually the amount per hundred)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

percent (not comparable)

For every hundred (used with preceding numeral to form a noun phrase expressing a proportion). [from 16th c.]

Usage notes

• A percentage is often denoted by the character %.

• The difference of two percentages is measured by percentage point, not by percent.

Noun

percent (plural percent or percents)

A percentage, a proportion (especially per hundred).

One part per hundred; one percent. [from 19th c.]

Prepositional phrase

percent

Per hundred.

Usage notes

• Percent/per cent originated as a shortening of the Latin phrase per centum, “per hundred”, and historically the use of the word as a noun (as in “half a percent” or “percents”) was regarded as an error, though such use has now become so common that it is recognized by all other major dictionaries, and a few treat the word as being only a noun. Of those which recognize non-nounal uses, most label it an adverb and many also label it an adjective though it does not meet tests of adjectivity.

Source: Wiktionary

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