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 the math test. [percentile: noun]
Example
The 75th percentile represents the value below which 75% of the data falls. [percentile: adjective]
quantile
Example
The median is the 50th quantile of a distribution. [quantile: noun]
Example
The 80th quantile represents the value below which 80% of the data falls. [quantile: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Percentile is more commonly used than quantile in everyday language, especially in educational and psychological contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between percentile and quantile?
Both percentile and quantile are formal words used in technical and academic contexts, but percentile is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
