What does hundredth mean?
“Hundredth” is the ordinal number associated with 100, and it is also used for one of 100 equal parts of a whole. In a sequence, it identifies the item that comes last after ninety-nine preceding items: “the hundredth participant.” In measurements and proportions, a hundredth means one percent, or 0.01, of something. The word is especially useful when precision is required without using a fraction or decimal, although modern technical writing often favors “one percent” for the mathematical concept. As an adjective, “hundredth” modifies nouns such as “anniversary,” “page,” or “time.” The form is formed from “hundred” with the ordinal suffix “-th,” following the same pattern as “twentieth” and “thirtieth.”
The ordinal number corresponding to 100, or the 100th member of a sequence.
"The hundredth contestant received a warm welcome from the audience."
Usually used with a determiner such as “the” when referring to a position in a sequence.
Denoting the 100th position in a sequence or one of 100 equal parts of a whole.
"A hundredth of the votes were spoiled in the first count."
The fraction sense is equivalent to “one percent” and is common in formal and technical contexts.
The standard plural of the noun “hundredth,” as in “several hundredths of a second.”
"The material stretched by only a few hundredths of an inch."
A hundredth is the rare fraction that is also an ordinal: it means both one of 100 equal parts and the 100th position in a sequence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hundredth come from?
The word “hundredth” is formed from the English cardinal number “hundred” and the ordinal suffix “-th.” “Hundred” comes from Old English “hund,” a Germanic word related to cognates in other Germanic languages, including German “hundert” and Dutch “honderd.” The suffix “-th” was added to express ordinal meaning and is also seen in related forms such as “twentieth” and “thirtieth.”
Related word forms
How hundredth is actually used
As an ordinal, it is normally preceded by the definite article or another determiner, as in “the hundredth time.” The fraction sense is common in formal and technical contexts.
Easily confused with hundredth
“Hundred” is the cardinal number 100, whereas “hundredth” is the ordinal form meaning 100th or one of 100 equal parts.