eighty-third
A2Neutral, Formal, Informal
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eighty-three; following eighty-second and preceding eighty-fourth.
A person, item, or position numbered eighty-three in a series; often used to denote a fraction (one eighty-third).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a numeral; functions as a determiner, pronoun, or nominal modifier. Use requires a hyphen. Represents sequence, not quantity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Potential for minor stylistic variation in phrasing (e.g., 'the eighty-third time' vs. 'his eighty-third birthday').
Connotations
Neutral ordinal connotation in both. Can imply advanced age, repetition, or a late position in a long series.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, following the same grammatical rules.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[the] eighty-third + Noun (the eighty-third floor)[be] the eighty-third + (to infinitive) (He was the eighty-third to arrive)[a/one] eighty-third + of (one eighty-third of the total)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the eighty-third floor (implies a very high level)”
- “his eighty-third wind (humorous reference to renewed energy at an advanced age)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports for fiscal periods, project milestones (e.g., 'the eighty-third quarterly report').
Academic
Used in referencing editions, volumes, or sequences in long-term studies.
Everyday
Most commonly used for birthdays, anniversaries, or floor numbers in tall buildings.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing, such as in manufacturing lot numbers or software versioning.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He finished eighty-third in the London Marathon.
American English
- She ranked eighty-third out of five hundred applicants.
adjective
British English
- He celebrated his eighty-third birthday quietly at home.
- The flat is on the eighty-third floor of The Shard.
American English
- She is running in her eighty-third marathon this year.
- The team's eighty-third consecutive win set a new record.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandad is eighty-three years old. Today is his eighty-third birthday.
- Our hotel room was on the eighty-third floor.
- This is the eighty-third edition of the annual science fair.
- He came in eighty-third in the cycling race.
- The committee held its eighty-third session to discuss the new regulations.
- One eighty-third of the estate was left to charity.
- The treaty was ratified during the nation's eighty-third year of independence.
- Her eighty-third attempt at breaking the record was finally successful.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Eighty' + 'third' = 80 + 3rd. Remember the hyphen connects the two parts into one ordinal idea.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IN A LONG JOURNEY (e.g., 'the eighty-third mile of the marathon' implies a long, ongoing effort).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'восемьдесят три' (cardinal). The correct ordinal is 'восемьдесят третий'.
- Remember the hyphen in English; Russian uses a space (восемьдесят третий).
Common Mistakes
- Writing as 'eighty third' (missing hyphen).
- Pronouncing as 'eighty-three-th' (incorrect blending).
- Using as a cardinal number (e.g., 'I have eighty-third books').
Practice
Quiz
How is the ordinal number 83rd correctly written?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, always. Compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine use a hyphen when forming ordinals (e.g., twenty-first, eighty-third).
Yes. For example: 'She was the eighty-third to cross the finish line.' Here, 'the eighty-third' functions as a noun phrase meaning 'the eighty-third person'.
The fraction is 'one eighty-third' (1/83). It is expressed as 'one eighty-third' or 'an eighty-third'.
No significant difference in meaning. '83rd' is the numerical abbreviation, while 'eighty-third' is the word form. The word form is preferred in formal writing at the beginning of a sentence.