fifty-ninth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “fifty-ninth” mean?
the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-nine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-nine; 59th in a sequence.
Used to indicate position, order, or a fraction (one part in fifty-nine equal parts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Hyphenation ('fifty-ninth') is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond its numerical meaning.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both dialects, directly tied to contexts requiring ordinals.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-ninth” in a Sentence
(the) fifty-ninth + nounbe + the + fifty-ninth + to-infinitiveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-ninth” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He ran fifty-ninth in a field of a hundred.
American English
- She placed fifty-ninth overall in the competition.
adjective
British English
- He finished in fifty-ninth position in the London Marathon.
American English
- She is the fifty-ninth president of the university.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company reported its fifty-ninth consecutive quarter of growth.
Academic
The phenomenon is discussed in the fifty-ninth volume of the journal.
Everyday
I'm celebrating my fifty-ninth birthday next week.
Technical
The satellite completed its fifty-ninth orbit of the planet.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-ninth”
- Writing as 'fifty-nineth' (incorrect spelling of the suffix).
- Saying 'the fifty-nine' instead of 'the fifty-ninth'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when written out in full, it is always hyphenated: fifty-ninth.
Yes, it is commonly written as '59th' in numerals.
It is pronounced /naɪnθ/, with a clear 'n' sound followed by the unvoiced 'th' as in 'think'.
When used attributively before a noun (fifty-ninth birthday), the article 'the' is often omitted. When used substantively (He was the fifty-ninth), 'the' is required.
the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-nine.
Fifty-ninth is usually neutral in register.
Fifty-ninth: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈnaɪnθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈnaɪnθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the fifty-ninth minute (of the eleventh hour): at the very last possible moment.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'fifty' plus the number 'nine'. For the '-th', remember it's the pattern for all ordinals after 'third' (like ninth, tenth).
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION AS ORDER (The fifty-ninth step in the process).
Practice
Quiz
How is the ordinal number for 59 correctly written?