quotient

American  

[kwoh-shuhnt] / ˈkwoʊ ʃənt /

noun

Mathematics.

quotients plural

1. the result of division; the number of times one quantity is contained in another.

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quotient British  

/ ˈkwəʊʃənt /

noun

1. 1. the result of the division of one number or quantity by another

   2. the integral part of the result of division

2. a ratio of two numbers or quantities to be divided

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quotient Scientific  

/ kwō′shənt /

1. The number that results when one number is divided by another. If 6 is divided by 3, the quotient can be represented as 2, or as 6 ÷ 3, or as the fraction 6/3.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• quotients
  plural

Etymology

Origin of quotient

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English quociens, quocient, from Latin quotiēns “how many times”

Explanation

When you add two numbers the answer is called the sum. When you divide two numbers the answer is called the quotient. The quotient of six divided by two is three. Quotient comes from Latin and means "how many times." That makes a lot of sense: if you divide one number by a second, you are figuring out "how many times" the second number goes into the first. Outside of math, use of the word is restricted: the IQ test is short for "Intelligence Quotient," and very rarely you might hear someone ask, "What's my quotient of cupcakes?" when they mean "What is my share?"

Example Sentences

Kuku, one of the first Indian start-ups to tap into this interest, is generating revenue, said Gagan Goyal, partner at venture capital fund India Quotient, which has invested in it.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Her book The Kiss Quotient, published in 2018, tells the story of a young autistic woman who overcomes her fear of dating to fall in love with a man of Swedish and Vietnamese descent.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2023

Quotient Technology Inc., up 30 cents to $3.62.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023

Last year, Quotient avoided a board challenge from hedge fund Engaged Capital LLC by agreeing to add two directors to its board.

From Reuters • Mar. 7, 2023

And then you do have the fantastic Responsibility Quotient of 9.6 out of 10.

From Mr. President by Arr, Stephen