sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th  ˈsiks(t) 

plural sixths

ˈsiks(ts),

ˈsiks(t)ths 

1

: one that is number six in a series

We'll be arriving on the sixth.

Her office is the sixth on the left.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of six equal parts of something

one sixth of the total

3

a

: a musical interval embracing six diatonic degrees

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : submediant

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a sixth apart

sixth adjective or adverb

the book's sixth chapter

the state's sixth largest city

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb

Sixthly, don't let your screaming tenor soar an octave above all the balance of the chorus …

—Mark Twain

Examples of sixth in a Sentence

Only about a sixth of the town voted for her.

Recent Examples on the Web

The only run in the first eight innings that couldn’t be prevented was a solo home run by Freddie Freeman in the sixth. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025

Perhaps Suárez’s biggest pitch of the night was an 0-1 slider to Max Muncy with two runners on in the sixth. —Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

That brings the overall fundraising to about one-sixth of the amount needed. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025

Casey Mize, meanwhile, needed only 59 pitches to bulldoze his way the first five innings; 60, after Duran’s first-pitch leadoff groundout in the sixth. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sixth

• sixth chord
• sixth form
• sixth form college
• sixth sense

Kids Definition

sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th 

ˈsiks(t)

plural sixths

1

: one that is number six in a series see number

2

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the sixth tone of a scale

sixth adjective or adverb

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb