adjective
nth
ENTH
Nth (adjective) means occurring at position n in a numbered sequence, in mathematics. Example: “The formula gives the nth term of the sequence.”
adjective
1
formal Occurring at position n in a numbered sequence, in mathematics.
"The formula gives the nth term of the sequence."
"Each student calculated the nth value in the series."
2
informal Occurring at some large but unspecified point in a series, used informally.
"This is the nth time he's forgotten his keys."
"For the nth time, I told her the meeting had moved."
"It felt like the nth attempt at fixing the same problem."
How to use nth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of saying 'however many' when the exact number doesn't matter or isn't known.
When to use it
The mathematical sense is formal and technical, while 'for the nth time' is common in everyday informal speech.
Common pairings
the nth term
for the nth time
to the nth degree
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The formula gives the _____ term of the sequence.
Etymology
Nth is formed from the letter n, used in mathematics to stand for an unspecified number, combined with the ordinal ending -th, as in fourth or fifth.
Rhymes for nth
See all rhymes for nth →Frequently asked questions
What does nth mean?
In mathematics it means occurring at an unspecified position, n, in a sequence; informally it means happening after a large, unstated number of times.
What does 'for the nth time' mean?
It means something has happened so many times the exact count no longer matters.
Is nth a real mathematical term?
Yes, it's a standard way to refer to the term at position n in a numbered sequence.
What is the meaning of nth?
"nth" (adjective) means occurring at position n in a numbered sequence, in mathematics.
