fifth

noun

ˈfith  ˈfif(t)th 

ˈfift

plural fifths ˈfiths 

ˈfif(t)ths, 

ˈfif(t)s

1

: one that is number five in a series

Payment is due on the fifth of the month.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of five equal parts of something

spent a fifth of their income on rent

3

a

: 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

4

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

5

the Fifth : the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

also : the right accorded by the Fifth Amendment to refuse to testify against oneself see also plead the fifth, take the fifth

fifth adjective or adverb

the fifth annual food festival

She finished fifth in the race.

fifthly adverb

Fourthly, it takes a lot of concrete to make a nuclear power plant. Fifthly, there is no place to put the waste that is safe.

—Victor Odlivak

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

The Braves had three top six scorers, with Zion Cannon placing third in the 215 weight class with a 715 total and Ryan Coughlin fifth at 238 with a 645 total. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026

The main reason drivers are paying more at the pump is because the war has stranded oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil normally passes. —Cathy Bussewitz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

Gray put the Twins up 3-2 with a run-scoring single in the fifth, but Ruiz hit a two-run double in the bottom half, and with the bases loaded and one out, second baseman Luke Keaschall and right fielder Matt Wallner let Mead's popup fall between them, enabling another run to score. —ABC News, 7 May 2026

By waiting until now to sign him, the Seahawks will not affect the compensatory pick formula, which is projected to land them four picks (one fourth-rounder and three fifths) in 2027. —Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 5 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fifte, fifthe, from Old English fīfta, from fīf five

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing fifth

• fifth column
• fifth disease
• fifth wheel
• plead the fifth

Kids Definition

fifth

noun

ˈfith  ˈfif(t)th 

1

: one that is number five in a series see number

2

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the fifth tone of a scale

fifth adjective or adverb

fifthly adverb