sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th  ˈsiks(t) 

plural sixths

ˈsiks(ts), 

ˈsiks(t)ths 

1

: one that is number six in a series

We'll be arriving on the sixth.

Her office is the sixth on the left.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of six equal parts of something

one sixth of the total

3

a

: a musical interval embracing six diatonic degrees

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : submediant

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a sixth apart

sixth adjective or adverb

the book's sixth chapter

the state's sixth largest city

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb

Sixthly, don't let your screaming tenor soar an octave above all the balance of the chorus …

—Mark Twain

Examples of sixth in a Sentence

Only about a sixth of the town voted for her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Max Muncy followed Pages' shot with a solo homer in the third inning, and Teoscar Hernández added a two-run shot in the sixth during the Dodgers' dominant victory to open the latest Freeway Series between the back-to-back World Series champions and the team with the majors' worst record. —ABC News, 16 May 2026

Connor Norby launched a solo homer in the second inning and Jakob Marsee did the same in the sixth for the Marlins, who have lost three of their last four games. —Miami Herald, 15 May 2026

Elder was lifted after walking three straight batters with two outs in the sixth. —CBS News, 10 May 2026

Steer lined a home run into the left-field seats in the sixth. —Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sixth

• sixth chord
• sixth form
• sixth form college
• sixth sense

Kids Definition

sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th 

ˈsiks(t)

plural sixths

1

: one that is number six in a series see number

2

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the sixth tone of a scale

sixth adjective or adverb

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb