quincunx

1 of 2

noun

quin·​cunx ˈkwin-ˌkəŋ(k)s 

: an arrangement of five things in a square or rectangle with one at each corner and one in the middle

quincuncial

kwin-ˈkən(t)-shəl 

adjective

or quincunxial

kwin-ˈkəŋk-sē-əl 

quincuncial

2 of 2

adjective

quin·​cun·​cial (ˈ)kwin¦kənchəl 

variants or quincunxial

-əŋ(k)sēəl 

1

: relating to, consisting of, or arranged in a quincunx or quincunxes

2

a

: having the members so imbricated that two are exterior, two are interior, and the other has one edge exterior and one interior

—used of a pentamerous calyx or corolla

quincuncial estivation

b

: pentastichous

quincuncially

-chəlē

adverb

Did you know?

Give Me Five for Quincunx

In ancient Rome, a quincunx was a coin with a weight equal to five twelfths of a libra, a unit of weight similar to our pound. The coin's name comes from the Latin roots quinque, meaning "five," and uncia, meaning "one twelfth."  The ancients used a pattern of five dots arranged like the pips on a die as a symbol for the coin, and English speakers applied the word to arrangements similar to that distinctive five-dot mark.

Examples of quincunx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Exploration calls as pleasure-seeking Venus forms a quincunx to jovial Jupiter, activating your 9th House of Learning with a nudge to adjust expensive plans. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

Your 5th House of Ingenuity unfurls under today’s Mercury-Jupiter quincunx, and with Jupiter in your proud 10th house, others are likely to notice your creative successes. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026

Venus in Leo creates a quincunx with Saturn retrograde in Pisces, minimising our confidence and wallets. —Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin quincunc-, quincunx, literally, five twelfths, from quinque five + uncia twelfth part — more at five, ounce

Adjective

quincuncial from Latin quincuncialis, from quincunc-, quincunx + -alis -al; quincunxial from Latin quincunx + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1545, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quincunx

• bunks
• chunks
• drunks
• hunks
• junks
• monks
• punks
• skunks
• trunks

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!