ninety

nine·ty

noun \ˈnīn-tē\

plural nineties

Definition of NINETY

1

— see number table

2

plural : the numbers 90 to 99; specifically : the years 90 to 99 in a lifetime or century

— nine·ti·eth \-tē-əth\ adjective or noun

— ninety adjective

— ninety pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of NINETY

1. During the nineties, he was going to college and working part-time.

Origin of NINETY

Middle English ninety, adjective, from Old English nigontig, short for hundnigontig, from hundnigontig, noun, group of 90, from hund-, literally, hundred + nigon nine + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain