tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s  ˈten(t)ths 

1

: one that is number ten in a series

the tenth of February

She was the tenth in line.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of ten equal parts of something

He sold the car for a tenth of its value.

3

a

: a musical interval embracing an octave and a third

b

: the tone at this interval

tenth adjective or adverb

the tenth floor

the world's tenth largest company

Examples of tenth in a Sentence

He was tenth in line.

He traded stocks for one tenth their face value.

I only paid a tenth of what you did for that jacket.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that Americans in the highest tenth of the income distribution will gain wealth as a result of the bill, while those in the lowest tenth will lose wealth. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 May 2025

But resources would decrease by about 2% by 2027 for people in the lowest tenth (decible) of the income distribution and increase for people in the highest tenth of the income distribution due to cuts in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 22 May 2025

The pointing accuracy is claimed to be just 17 micro-radians – less than a tenth of an inch at 1,000 yards – far less than inaccuracies caused by other variables. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

That was followed by isolated showers in the rest of the day, expected to result in about a tenth of an inch of precipitation. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tenth

• tenth-rate

Kids Definition

tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s 

ˈten(t)ths

1

: one that is number 10 in a series see number

2

: one of 10 equal parts of something

3

: the one numbered 10 in a countable series

tenth adjective or adverb