sixty

noun

six·​ty ˈsiks-tē 

plural sixties

1

: a number that is equal to six times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

sixties plural : the numbers 60 to 69

specifically : the years 60 to 69 in a lifetime or century

sixtieth

ˈsiks-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

sixty adjective

sixty pronoun, plural in construction

sixtyish

ˈsiks-tē-ish 

adjective

Examples of sixty in a Sentence

He retired when he was in his sixties.

Recent Examples on the Web

Take Eric, a man in his late sixties who has served some thirty-five years and will never be released. —Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025

Heathrow was the first to offer an airport VIP service in the early sixties, initially serving diplomats and royalty exclusively. —Michele Robson, Fortune, 5 July 2025

In the late fifties and early sixties the Method was the rage, especially among the young actors of about Willy’s age, who all idolized Marlon Brando and would go on to transform American cinema in a few years: Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and so on. —Benjamin Hale june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025

The landlord, an engineer named Mr. Palit, who occupied the ground floor, was an acquaintance of my parents’ from the late sixties, one of the few members of their Bengali circle who still lived in the city. —Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from sixty, adjective, from Old English siextig, noun, group of sixty, from siex six + -tig group of ten; akin to Old English tīen ten

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sixty

• sixty-fourth note
• sixty-fourth rest
• sixty-nine

Kids Definition

sixty

noun

six·​ty ˈsik-stē 

plural sixties

: a number that is equal to six times 10 see number

sixtieth

-stē-əth 

adjective or noun

sixty adjective or pronoun