percentage
n.-
1 a part of 100 (n.) B1 Intermediate Matha number or rate that shows how much of something there is out of every 100.
a rate, number, or amount in each hundred; a proportion of a total expressed as a fraction of 100.
ExampleA high percentage of the students passed the final exam with top marks.
ExampleThe report indicates that a significant percentage of the local population remains underserved by the current public transport infrastructure.
UsageOften used with 'of' followed by a noun phrase; the verb agreement typically matches the noun following 'of'.
PitfallA large percentage of students is absent.A large percentage of students are absent.When 'percentage of' is followed by a plural noun, the verb should also be plural.
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2 a share of money (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea share of the money made from a sale or a business deal.
an allowance, commission, or share of profits or gross receipts.
ExampleThe salesperson gets a small percentage of every car they sell.
ExampleThe author negotiated a higher percentage of the digital sales as part of her new contract with the publishing house.
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3 benefit or advantage (n.) C2 Proficiency Informalthe personal advantage or profit you might get from a situation.
the likelihood of profit, advantage, or success in a particular course of action.
ExampleI don't see much percentage in arguing with him when he's in a bad mood.
ExampleThe veteran gambler knew there was no percentage in playing against the house when the odds were so heavily stacked against him.
Teacher's tipThis sense is relatively rare in modern speech and is mostly found in older literature or specific idioms like 'there is no percentage in...'.
From percent, from Latin per centum (“for every hundred”), + -age (suffix indicating a rate).