eighty

noun

ˈā-tē 

plural eighties

1

: a number that is equal to eight times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

eighties plural : the numbers 80 to 89

specifically : the years 80 to 89 in a lifetime or century

eightieth

ˈā-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

eighty adjective

eighty pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of eighty in a Sentence

The temperature rose to the high eighties.

She is in her mid-eighties.

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this year, Bove coauthored a study of more than 2,600 women in their seventies and eighties, in which earlier menopause was tied to faster declines in thinking skills and, after natural menopause, greater white matter damage. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 Nov. 2026

The couple, who now live in San Francisco and are in their eighties, have built substantial wealth. — Christina Wing, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Tymon’s mom, who was in her mid-eighties, worked in the ticket office at Yankee Stadium, but her daughter had urged her to stay at home that night. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

In the eighties, Clemente had decorated the walls of the Palladium, a Steve Rubell night club. — Emma Allen, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English eighty, adjective, from Old English eahtatig, short for hundeahtatig, noun, group of eighty, from hund-, literally, hundred + eahta eight + -tig group of ten; akin to Old English tīen ten

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing eighty

• eighty-six
• ten-eighty

Rhymes for eighty

• kati
• katy
• platy
• slaty
• weighty

Kids Definition

eighty

noun

ˈāt-ē 

plural eighties

: a number that is equal to eight times 10 see number

eightieth

-ē-əth 

adjective or noun

eighty adjective or pronoun