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

Prices dropped by just a tenth of a cent from June to roughly 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, the second-highest on record, according to BLS data. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

That word count made the piece about one-tenth the length of the average novel—and 10x his article on Personal Superintelligence a year ago. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Those 17,000 homeowners who received letters pay property tax at a rate ¼ to one-tenth what middle-class homeowners pay, full-time resident or not. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Zelensky said a tenth of the US current stockpile would be enough to stop all Russian ballistic missile attacks, but 5% would be enough to get Ukraine through the winter. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

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