What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
percentile
Example
She scored in the 90th percentile on her math test. [percentile: noun]
Example
The 25th percentile is the value below which 25% of the observations fall. [percentile: noun]
centile
Example
He was in the top centile of his class for reading ability. [centile: noun]
Example
The 75th centile is the value below which 75% of the observations fall. [centile: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Percentile is more commonly used than centile in academic and scientific contexts, while centile is more commonly used in medical contexts. Both words are not commonly used in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between percentile and centile?
Both percentile and centile are formal words that are typically used in technical or specialized contexts.
