fifty-eighth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “fifty-eighth” mean?
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-eight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-eight; coming after the fifty-seventh.
Designating the position in a sequence, or one part of a series divided into fifty-eight equal parts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Hyphenation is consistent in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond the numerical value.
Frequency
Appears with standard frequency for higher ordinal numbers in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-eighth” in a Sentence
ordinal + noun (the fifty-eighth edition)be + ordinal (She was fifty-eighth in line.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-eighth” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He finished fifty-eighth, which was better than last year's result.
American English
- She came in fifty-eighth in the national spelling bee.
adjective
British English
- He celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday with a quiet trip to the Lake District.
American English
- This is the fifty-eighth Congressional District of New York.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for fiscal periods, ranking performance, or project phases (e.g., 'the fifty-eighth fiscal quarter').
Academic
Used in referencing volumes, editions, or sequences in long-term studies (e.g., 'the fifty-eighth iteration of the experiment').
Everyday
Most commonly used for birthdays, anniversaries, or positions in queues and competitions.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing, such as in manufacturing batch numbers, legislative sessions, or astronomical observations.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-eighth”
- Writing as 'fifty-eight-th' (incorrect hyphenation)
- Pronouncing '-eighth' as /-eɪθ/ without the final /t/ sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth are hyphenated when written out.
Yes, it can function as a noun (e.g., 'She was the fifty-eighth to arrive').
It is pronounced /-eɪtθ/, with a clear /t/ sound followed by the voiceless 'th' /θ/. It is not simply 'eighth' /eɪtθ/ said after 'fifty'; it's a combined form.
No difference in meaning. '58th' is the numeral form, while 'fifty-eighth' is the word form. The word form is often used in formal writing.
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-eight.
Fifty-eighth is usually neutral to formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The fifty-eighth minute (referring to a specific, often tense, moment late in a soccer match).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Fifty' plus 'eighth' sounds like 'fifty-ate-th.' Remember you 'ate' something on your fifty-eighth birthday.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IS A NUMBER (e.g., being 'fifty-eighth' conceptualizes a specific location in a linear sequence).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form for the ordinal number 58?