fifth

noun

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\ ˈfith

, ˈfif(t)th, ˈfift

plural fifths\ ˈfiths

, ˈfif(t)ths , ˈfif(t)s \

Definition of fifth

1 : one that is number five in a series — see Table of Numbers

2a : the musical interval embracing five diatonic degrees

b : a tone at this interval specifically : dominant sense 1

c : the harmonic combination of two tones at this interval

3 : a unit of measure for liquor equal to one fifth of a U.S. gallon (0.757 liter)

4 capitalized : the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution also : the right accorded by the Fifth Amendment to refuse to testify against oneself —usually used in the phrase take the Fifth

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Examples of fifth in a Sentence

The bill is due on the fifth of each month. She donated a fifth of her income to charity. bought a fifth of whiskey

Recent Examples on the Web Mexico relies on Petroleos Mexicanos -- the state oil company -- for almost a fifth of revenue. — Justin Villamil, Bloomberg.com, "Mexican Peso Free Fall Shows Oil Isn’t the Only Problem," 18 May 2020 Driving the downturn are losses in remittances, a decline in tourism, and — significantly for a country whose economy relies on exports for nearly a fifth of its gross domestic product — a major contraction of the export market. — Los Angeles Times, "U.S. factories in Mexico are still open. As the coronavirus spreads, workers are dying," 18 Apr. 2020 The album, Apple’s fifth, follows in this same down-is-up approach, musically and emotionally. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Fiona Apple’s Survival Guide to Isolation," 17 Apr. 2020 An events planner, his pay cut by four-fifths, now moonlights as a takeout delivery driver — and can no longer afford to eat out. — Keith Bradsher, New York Times, "China’s Factories Are Back. Its Consumers Aren’t.," 28 Apr. 2020 Yet central banks are responsible for over four-fifths of that and many governments are doing too little. — The Economist, "The world economy How to prevent a covid-19 slump, and protect the recovery," 19 Mar. 2020 Poland currently relies on coal for four-fifths of its electricity. — David Meyer, Fortune, "An Early Christmas for U.S. Farmers," 13 Dec. 2019 In Detroit, more than a fifth of the police department is under quarantine, the Associated Press reported. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'They're concerned': Small number of Milwaukee police sidelined by virus," 4 Apr. 2020 In New York City, hotels are expected to be two-thirds empty through June, and real estate agents should expect to lose a fifth of their sales, City Comptroller Scott Stringer said. — Irina Ivanova, CBS News, "The coronavirus recession is here — it will slam the job market," 17 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fifth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near fifth

fifteener

fifteen-pounder

fifteen-spined stickleback

Statistics for fifth

Last Updated

22 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fifth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifth. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

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More Definitions for fifth

fifth

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fifth

: number five in a series

: one of five equal parts of something

: a unit of measure for alcoholic liquor that is equal to one fifth of a U.S. gallon (approximately 750 ml) also : a bottle that holds this amount of liquor

See the full definition for fifth in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fifth

adjective

\ ˈfifth