centime

/ˈsɑntim/

Other forms: centimes

Just like a cent is one-hundredth of a dollar, a centime is one-hundredth of a franc, a basic unit of money once used in France and still used in Switzerland and some other places.

Centimes aren't as common as they used to be, as some European countries that used to use francs now use euros. However, the centime lives on in some countries, especially those that were colonized or heavily influenced by France and still have many French speakers. For example, Algeria and Morocco still refer to one-hundredth of their base currencies — dinars and dirhams, respectively — as centimes.

Definitions of centime

1. noun

   a current or former fractional monetary unit of several countries, including France, Algeria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Congo, Gabon, Haiti, the Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Switzerland, and Togo
   types:

   Algerian centime

   100 centimes equal 1 dinar in Algeria

   Haitian centime

   100 centimes equal 1 gourde in Haiti

   type of:

   fractional monetary unit, subunit

   a monetary unit that is valued at a fraction (usually one hundredth) of the basic monetary unit
2. noun

   a coin worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit
   synonyms: cent, penny

   types:

   copper

   a copper penny

   new penny

   a coin used in Great Britain since 1971 worth one hundredth of a pound

   type of:

   coin

   a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money