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

Yamamoto asked for the grounds crew to fix it in the sixth. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026

Shrewsbury scored a couple runs in the sixth to cut the deficit, but Taunton added three more – capped by an RBI double from Bailey. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 June 2026

That included one from Alika Williams, who had his first career home run with a solo shot in the sixth. —CBS News, 11 June 2026

Rodón needed just nine pitches to get through the fifth inning and worked a 1-2-3 sixth. —Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 10 June 2026

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