twenty

1 of 3

noun (1)

twen·​ty ˈtwen-tē  ˈtwən- 

plural twenties

1

: a number equal to two times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

twenties plural : the numbers 20 to 29

specifically : the years 20 to 29 in a lifetime or century

3

: a 20-dollar bill

twentieth

ˈtwen-tē-əth 

ˈtwən-

adjective or noun

twenty adjective

twenty pronoun, plural in construction

twentieth

2 of 3

adjective

twen·​ti·​eth ˈtwentēə̇th 

-ntiə̇th, 

in rapid speech sometimes -wənē- or -ni-

1

: being number 20 in a countable series

the twentieth day

see Table of Numbers

2

: being one of 20 equal parts into which something is divisible

a twentieth share of the money

twentieth

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

plural -s

1

: number 20 in a countable series

the twentieth of the month

2

: the quotient of a unit divided by 20 : one of 20 equal parts of something

one twentieth of the total

Examples of twenty in a Sentence

Noun (1)

Tomorrow the temperature will be in the low twenties.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For example, a woman with a BRCA1 variant can begin mammograms and MRI screening in her twenties or consider preventive surgery. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Beginning in the nineteen-twenties, millions of dollars were poured into making those schools great, with a new curriculum foregrounding civics and self-improvement. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026

But Kivlen, who grew up on Long Island, began to feel jaded with the city as his twenties drew to an end. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2026

Stiller took time to warm up in Sinsheim, so doesn’t have the same playing experience as other players in their mid-twenties. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from twenty, adjective, from Old English twēntig, noun, group of 20, from twēn- (akin to Old English twā two) + -tig group of 10; akin to Old English tīen ten — more at two, ten

Adjective

Middle English twentithe, from Old English twentigotha, from twentig twenty + -otha -th

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing twenty

• twenty-four hours a day
• twenty-fourmo
• twenty-four seven
• twenty-one
• twenty-twenty
• twenty-twenty hindsight
• twenty-twenty vision
• twenty-two

Rhymes for twenty

• mentee
• plenty
• senti
• aplenty
• placentae

Kids Definition

twenty

noun

twen·​ty ˈtwent-ē 

plural twenties

: a number equal to two times 10 see number

twenty adjective or pronoun