fifty-five: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral
Quick answer
What does “fifty-five” mean?
The number following fifty-four and preceding fifty-six.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number following fifty-four and preceding fifty-six; the natural number 55.
A score, quantity, age, or identifier representing the value fifty-five. Often used to specify a particular item in a series or a specific age group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Pronunciation differences are phonemic (see IPA). In UK English, the final syllable may be more clipped.
Connotations
Neutral numerical value. In both cultures, associated with speed limits (e.g., 55 mph), historical events (e.g., 1955), or age milestones.
Frequency
Equally common and used identically in all registers in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-five” in a Sentence
[BE] fifty-five (years old)[HAVE] fifty-five [NOUN][NUMBER] fifty-fiveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-five” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She bought a rare fifty-five pence stamp.
- He drives at a steady fifty-five miles per hour on the motorway.
American English
- He restored a classic '55 Chevy.
- The national speed limit was once fifty-five miles per hour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for metrics, percentages, or quantities (e.g., 'a fifty-five percent market share').
Academic
Used statistically, in data descriptions, or historically (e.g., 'fifty-five participants completed the survey').
Everyday
Most common for stating age, price, time, or simple quantities (e.g., 'It costs fifty-five quid', 'He's fifty-five').
Technical
Used as a precise numerical value in specifications, codes, or measurements (e.g., 'a 55-gallon drum', 'NATO 5.55mm').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fifty-five”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-five”
- Misspelling as 'fifty five' without a hyphen (required when attributive).
- Incorrect stress: Stressing the first syllable of 'fifty' only, not both primary stresses (/ˌfɪfti ˈfaɪv/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Fifty-five' with a hyphen is the standard form, especially when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a fifty-five-minute delay). As a simple number, the hyphen is also standard.
It has two primary stresses: one on the first syllable of 'fifty' (/ˈfɪf/) and one on the word 'five' (/ˈfaɪv/). So, /ˌfɪfti ˈfaɪv/.
Yes, commonly. For example: 'Fifty-five is a significant number in that study' or 'She drew number fifty-five.'
The Roman numeral for fifty-five is LV (L = 50, V = 5).
The number following fifty-four and preceding fifty-six.
Fifty-five is usually neutral in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two fives: 'fifty' starts with 'fif' (like five) and ends with the word 'five'. It's a double-five number.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS POSITION ON A PATH (the number line); A SPECIFIC AGE IS A LANDMARK.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the CORRECT hyphenated form when used as an adjective?