fifth
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for fifth, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Coming after four others in a sequence; the ordinal form of five.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use fifth
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fifta, built from "five" plus the ordinal ending "-th."
Full origin of fifth →Frequently asked questions
What does “fifth” mean?
The word “fifth” means coming after four others in a sequence; the ordinal form of five. In plain terms, number five in order, one part out of five, or (in American usage) a standard-size liquor bottle.
How do you pronounce “fifth”?
“Fifth” is pronounced fihfth (/fɪfθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fifth” in a sentence?
Here is “fifth” used in a sentence: “He finished fifth in the marathon.”
What part of speech is “fifth”?
Depending on how it is used, “fifth” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “fifth” come from?
The word “fifth” comes from Old English. From Old English fifta, built from "five" plus the ordinal ending "-th.".
Is “fifth” a common word?
“Fifth” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “fifth” have?
“Fifth” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming after four others in a sequence; the ordinal form of five.
What is the difference between 'fifth' and 'five'?
'Five' is a cardinal number that tells you how many — five apples. 'Fifth' is the matching ordinal, telling you position in a sequence — the fifth apple, meaning the one after four others. Cardinals count quantity; ordinals like 'fifth' rank order. It is the ordinal form of the number five.
How do you spell the ordinal of five?
It's spelled 'fifth' — f-i-f-t-h. Note that although it comes from 'five,' the 'v' changes to an 'f' before the '-th' ending. The numeral form is written '5th.' A common misspelling is 'fith,' leaving out the first 'f' sound that many people don't fully pronounce.
What are other meanings of 'fifth'?
Beyond ranking fifth in order, 'a fifth' can mean one of five equal parts of something. In music, a 'fifth' is a common interval between two notes. In the United States, a 'fifth' is a bottle of spirits of a certain size, and 'pleading the Fifth' refers to a legal right.