thirty-eight

noun

thir·​ty-eight ˌthər-tē-ˈāt 

1

: a number that is one more than 37 see Table of Numbers

2

: a .38 caliber handgun

—usually written .38

thirty-eight adjective

thirty-eight pronoun, plural in construction

Examples of thirty-eight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Malak, thirty-eight, was her father’s right hand, helping manage his businesses. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026

Harriet was thirty-eight when her mother was released, in 2019. —Literary Hub, 7 May 2026

This edition of Open Masters invites athletes thirty years-old and above to compete in one or more of thirty-eight sports, each with multiple age groups and distinct men’s and women’s categories. —Lee Igel, Forbes.com, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for thirty-eight

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate