eighth

noun

ˈātth 

ˈāth

plural eighths ˈāt(th)s 

ˈāths

1

: one that is number eight in a series

the eighth of the month

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of eight equal parts of something

one eighth of a pie

an eighth of a pound

3

: eighth note

4

: octave

He contrasted himself with Elton John, who complained that his chubby hands could only reach an eighth, which was a hindrance to his piano technique (though clearly he overcame the problem).

—Susan Wyndham

eighth adjective or adverb

the eighth person in line

the country's eighth largest city

Examples of eighth in a Sentence

one eighth of the pie

An eighth of a pound is two ounces.

Recent Examples on the Web

First, the entire auto loan market is only a fraction of the size of the home mortgage market – one-eighth the size, according to the Federal Reserve. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025

Black women, for instance, earn 67 cents for every dollar earned by white men, and the median Black household holds about one-eighth the wealth of white households. —Essence, 12 Sep. 2025

San Diego’s only other hit off Freeland was a two-out single by Iglesias in the eighth. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025

The Rays scored a run in their half of the sixth — and then came the explosive eighth. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing eighth

• eighth note
• eighth rest

Kids Definition

eighth

noun

ˈātth 

plural eighths ˈāt(th)s 

: one that is number eight in a series see number

eighth adjective or adverb