fifth

noun

plural fifths ˈfiths How to pronounce fifth (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Phillies scored twice off Darvish in the second inning to go up 2-0 and twice more in the fifth to go up 4-3. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025 Sosa homered in the first inning in Game 2 and again in the fifth. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025 The country experiences about 1,500 earthquakes a year, or nearly a fifth of the world’s total, and earthquake evacuation drills are regularly practiced by government agencies and public schools. Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 Six players tied for fifth to win $297,300 for the week. Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fifth

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fifth was in 1557

Cite this Entry

“Fifth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifth. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

fifth

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on fifth

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