fifty

noun

fif·​ty ˈfif-tē 

plural fifties

1

: a number equal to five times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

fifties plural : the numbers 50 to 59

specifically : the years 50 to 59 in a lifetime or century

3

: a 50-dollar bill

fiftieth

ˈfif-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

fifty adjective

fifty pronoun, plural in construction

fiftyish

ˈfif-tē-ish 

adjective

Examples of fifty in a Sentence

She is in her fifties.

The bill for dinner came to $43, and she gave him a fifty.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the city fathers of Philadelphia, regretting 1926 and determined not to miss the next opportunity, had begun planning for the Bicentennial in the nineteen-fifties. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Now Johanna is in her fifties and recently widowed, her one child grown and living abroad. —Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Hefty, gentle, and in his fifties, he was known to be faithful to friends and to enjoy a glass and a fine meal. —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

That could explain why 34% of professionals in their fifties said they were unfulfilled in their jobs in response to a Phoenix Group poll conducted in 2023. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fifty, adjective, from Old English fīftig, from fīftig, noun, group of 50, from fīf five + -tig group of ten; akin to tīen ten

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fifty

• fifty-fifty

Rhymes for fifty

• nifty
• shifty
• thrifty
• unthrifty

Kids Definition

fifty

noun

fif·​ty ˈfif-tē 

plural fifties

: a number equal to five times 10 see number

fiftieth

-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

fifty adjective or pronoun