English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Uncommon

twelfth

twehlfth-twehfth

Twelfth (adj) means coming after eleventh and before thirteenth in a sequence; number 12 in an ordered list. Example: “Today is her twelfth birthday.”

adj
1
Coming after eleventh and before thirteenth in a sequence; number 12 in an ordered list.
"Today is her twelfth birthday."
"He finished twelfth in the marathon."
noun
1
One of twelve equal parts into which something is divided.
"Each juror represents roughly a twelfth of the panel's vote."

How to use twelfth

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe ordinal number for 12th, or a share equal to one out of twelve.

Word forms

twelfths plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “twelfth” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Today is her _____ birthday.

Etymology

From Old English twelfta, built from twelve plus the ordinal ending -th, matched by similar words in German (zwölfte) and other Germanic languages.

Origin: Old English

duodecimal one-twelfth twelfth part

Related words

Rhymes for twelfth

See all rhymes for twelfth →

Frequently asked questions

What does “twelfth” mean?

The word “twelfth” means coming after eleventh and before thirteenth in a sequence; number 12 in an ordered list. In plain terms, the ordinal number for 12th, or a share equal to one out of twelve.

How do you pronounce “twelfth”?

“Twelfth” is pronounced twehlfth-twehfth (/twɛlfθ/ [tʰw̥ɛɫfθ] in IPA).

How do you use “twelfth” in a sentence?

Here is “twelfth” used in a sentence: “Today is her twelfth birthday.”

What part of speech is “twelfth”?

Depending on how it is used, “twelfth” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “twelfth” come from?

The word “twelfth” comes from Old English. From Old English twelfta, built from twelve plus the ordinal ending -th, matched by similar words in German (zwölfte) and other Germanic languages.

Is “twelfth” a common word?

“Twelfth” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “twelfth” have?

“Twelfth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming after eleventh and before thirteenth in a sequence; number 12 in an ordered list.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial