ratingrat·ing /ˈreɪtɪŋ/ noun1[countableC] a level on a scale that shows how good, important, or popular something or someone isThe President’s popularity rating has never been higher.
The show is several ratings points ahead of its nearest rival.
→ average audience rating → security rating2[countableC]FINANCE a measurement of the risk of lending to a company etc, calculated by an independent organization called a RATINGS AGENCYStandard and Poor’s downgraded (=reduced) the rating on Pacific’s commercial paper to single-A-3 from single-A-2.
Moody’s upgraded (=improved) its rating on Disney’s senior debt to double-A-3 from single-A-2.
→ AAA rating → Best rating → credit rating → debt rating → Standard & Poor's rating3[countableC]FINANCE an estimate of the future profitability of investing in a particular companyKidder Peabody recommended Texas Instruments stock, which carries the firm’s highest investment rating.
→ bond rating → buy rating → hold rating → security rating → sell rating4 (also insurance rating) [countableC]INSURANCE a measurement of the risk of loss, used to calculate how much will be charged for insurance → fleet rating5the ratings [plural] a measurement of how many people watch a television programme or listen to a radio programmeCBS Evening News slipped to second place in the ratings.
NBC’s ratings dropped 3% in November.