forty-five

noun

for·​ty-five ˌfȯr-tē-ˈfīv 

1

: a number that is five more than 40 see Table of Numbers

2

: a .45 caliber handgun

—usually written .45

3

: a phonograph record designed to be played at 45 revolutions per minute

—usually written 45

forty-five adjective

forty-five pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of forty-five in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The drive ordinarily takes about forty-five minutes, but Deniz always pushed his old yellow Mercedes to do it in thirty. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

The inaugural iteration of Santa Fe Invitational will take place April 8–11, 2027 at the Santa Fe Convention Center, hosting some forty-five international galleries as well as artists, collectors, and various local and international institutions. — News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026

Marcia, who some had predicted at the beginning of the 1960s would be the voice of the decade, author of two nonfiction books, Slummings and A Night at the Opera, dead at forty-five. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forty-five

• overdrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• khedive
• revive
• survive

Kids Definition

forty-five

noun

for·​ty-five

ˌfȯrt-ē-ˈfīv

: a .45 caliber pistol

—usually written .45