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

Harris also made a leaping catch on Grisham in center field to end the third and Ronald Acuña made a strong throw from right field with runners at second and third to prevent the Yankees from scoring in the sixth. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Chicago answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth; and Boston again cut the lead in half with a single run in the sixth. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Martin exited after the first two batters reached in the sixth. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Jarren Duran, a Cypress native, added to Boston’s lead with a 420-foot solo homer to center field off reliever Kyle Hurt in the sixth. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 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