tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s  ˈten(t)ths 

1

: one that is number ten in a series

the tenth of February

She was the tenth in line.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of ten equal parts of something

He sold the car for a tenth of its value.

3

a

: a musical interval embracing an octave and a third

b

: the tone at this interval

tenth adjective or adverb

the tenth floor

the world's tenth largest company

Examples of tenth in a Sentence

He was tenth in line.

He traded stocks for one tenth their face value.

I only paid a tenth of what you did for that jacket.

Recent Examples on the Web

San Francisco received an inch of rain, Oakland had three-quarters of an inch, San Jose got one-third of an inch, and Livermore and Concord a bit more than one-tenth of an inch on Tuesday. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

Thanks to the latter feature, the estate weighs 33 pounds less than the Performance model, enough of a difference to shave a tenth of a second off its zero-to-60-mph time. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2026

The agency says the regulation offers limited benefits because fewer than one-tenth of 1% of water systems probably have concerning perchlorate levels. —Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026

An ice storm warning is in effect from New York through much of Vermont, where 4 to 7 tenths of an inch of ice is possible. —Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tenth

• tenth-rate

Kids Definition

tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s 

ˈten(t)ths

1

: one that is number 10 in a series see number

2

: one of 10 equal parts of something

3

: the one numbered 10 in a countable series

tenth adjective or adverb