percentile

noun

per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtī(-ə)l 

: a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it

a score in the 95th percentile

Examples of percentile in a Sentence

His height and weight are in the 80th percentile for boys his age.

Recent Examples on the Web

Each is also in the bottom 15th percentile of 3-point rate this season. —Ben Pickman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

The stock’s Schaeffer’s Volatility Index (SVI) of 78% ranks in the 8th percentile of its annual range, meaning options traders are pricing in low volatility expectations. —Schaeffer's Investment Research, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Based on their percentile relative to their position, Wolf comes out narrowly ahead. —Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

According to Baseball Savant, Doyle ranks among baseball’s best in sprint speed (94th percentile), range (98%) and arm strength (99%). —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for percentile

• campanile
• chrysotile
• domicil
• domicile
• mercantile
• neuropil
• nonpareil
• peristyle
• reconcile
• thermopile
• aisle
• bile

Medical Definition

percentile

noun

per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtīl 

: a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it

a percentile score of 95 is a score equal to or better than 95 percent of the scores