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

Georgia 4, Arkansas 2 — End 6th Inning Carson Wiggins struck out the side against Georgia's big bats in the sixth. —Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2025

Then, a par on the par-3 fourth, a birdie on the par-4 fifth and another par on the par-3 sixth. —Brody Miller, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

The only stumble for Pivetta was when Farmer again doubled and Ezequiel Tovar walked with two outs in the sixth. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

In an 8-5 victory over Fullerton in a semifinal earlier on Saturday, Rosary was losing 5-2 and then scored three runs in the fifth to tie the score and three in the sixth to pull away. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 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