quintile

American  

[kwin-til, -tahyl] / ˈkwɪn tɪl, -taɪl /

noun

1. Statistics. a quantile for the special case of five equal proportions.

2. Astrology. a quintile aspect.

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adjective

1. Astrology. of or relating to the aspect of two heavenly bodies that are one fifth of the zodiac, or 72°, apart.

quintile British  

/ ˈkwɪntaɪl /

noun

1. an aspect of 72° between two heavenly bodies

2. a fifth part of a distribution

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Etymology

Origin of quintile

1600–10; < Latin quīnt ( us ) fifth + -ile (as in quartile )

Example Sentences

At the same time, uncertainty has sat in the highest quintile 43% of the time, more than double the average before October 2022, Paulsen wrote in an article on Substack External link.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

“In 2022 the cost of inflation for the lowest income quintile amounted to 12.28% of their current income, compared with 5.69% for the highest quintile,” the economists wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

The researchers found that, within each quintile of deprivation, exclusively breastfed infants used fewer healthcare services and incurred lower costs compared to infants fed any formula milk.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2024

What is more likely for both is they will stay in the poorest quintile or at best, move up one level to lower middle class.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 28, 2023

The tendency is clear for those in a given high school quintile to be found in or near the same quintile in their university work.

From Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and Methods by Hollingworth, Harry L.