thirty-eight

noun

thir·​ty-eight ˌthər-tē-ˈāt How to pronounce thirty-eight (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Harriet was thirty-eight when her mother was released, in 2019. Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 That dress, which cost thirty-eight ninety-nine, still hung limply in the store, twinkling. Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 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 But in thirty-eight years there has only ever been one SPACEBALLS. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thirty-eight was circa 1541

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Cite this Entry

“Thirty-eight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thirty-eight. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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