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

Other Words from fifth Example Sentences Phrases Containing fifth Learn More About fifth

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 Many developing countries – including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico, and Guatemala – rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports. — The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2022 The holiday island, which is in the EU, relied on Russia for a fifth of tourists before the coronavirus crisis. — Misha Savic, Bloomberg.com, 11 Mar. 2022 The company had around a fifth of China’s new-energy car market last quarter, according to Goldman Sachs, compared with 13.4% a year earlier. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2022 Many developing countries — including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala — rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports. — Geoffrey Kaviti, Chinedu Asadu And Paul Wiseman, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Apr. 2022 Ladas had almost 80% of the market during the Communist era and still command about a fifth of the Russian market. — Fortune, 4 Mar. 2022 The fire, which is being called the Colorado Fire, had burned around 100 acres, less than one-fifth of a square mile, when Monterey County officials ordered the evacuations Friday evening. — Editors, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2022 Most Americans — including most Democrats, but just a fifth of Republicans — call it an insurrection and describe it as an attempt to overturn the election and the government. — Anthony Salvanto, Kabir Khanna, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2022 Three sat on her for twenty-four laps and outkicked her on the twenty-fifth. — Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 14 July 2021 See More

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.