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

So was Pages’ first homer, which put the finishing touches on a rally that the Cuban native sparked with a leadoff double to left off Mets starter Adrian Houser in the fifth. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

The Concord school put up two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead after five, but De La Salle put the game away for good in the sixth. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024

Centennial touched up Amador for four unearned runs in the fifth. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024

Nearly three-quarters of Russians do not believe China is a threat to them—against around a fifth of Russians who think China is a threat. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

The man motioned for Jordan to get into his car, handed him a fifth of vodka, and told him to drink it fast. —Longreads, 4 Apr. 2024

Bubba Wallace still runs third, Kyle Larson fourth and William Byron fifth. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2024

Almost a fifth of US fans say that live women’s sports aren’t easily accessible at home, according to Nielsen. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

At their peak, only about two fifths of American workers actually had a pension. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

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