fifty

1 of 3

noun (1)

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

fiftieth

2 of 3

adjective

fif·​ti·​eth ˈfiftēə̇th 

-tiə̇th

1

: being number 50 in a countable series

the fiftieth day

see Table of Numbers

2

: being one of 50 equal parts into which something is divisible

a fiftieth share

fiftieth

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

plural -s

1

: number 50 in a countable series

2

: the quotient of a unit divided by 50 : one of 50 equal parts of something

one fiftieth of the total

Examples of fifty in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She is in her fifties.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In his mid-fifties, Damon eschewed gluten and did many pullups. — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026

Hershberger, who was in his early fifties, built a 30-year career from his love of music, earning a master’s degree in instrumental music education from Wichita State University in 1999. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026

Just two players recorded fifties — England’s Harry Brook and Emilio Gay — and four different bowlers took five wickets or more in an innings, the first time that has happened in a Lord’s Test. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 9 June 2026

By now, Robin is in his early fifties and still living in Edinburgh. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Adjective

Middle English fiftithe, adjective & noun, from Old English fīftigotha (akin to Old Norse fimmtugandi), from fīftig fifty + -otha, -tha, -th

Noun (2)

Middle English fiftithe

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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