fifty-one: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “fifty-one” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of fifty and one.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of fifty and one; 51.
A specific quantity, often used in enumerating items, age, or scores; sometimes used to denote a narrow margin (as in 'by fifty-one votes').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Hyphenation standard in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond the numerical value.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-one” in a Sentence
NUM + N (fifty-one people)BE + NUM (He is fifty-one.)NUM + of + DET + N (fifty-one of the participants)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-one” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- She bought fifty-one lottery tickets.
- The resolution passed by a fifty-one vote majority.
American English
- He owns fifty-one pairs of sneakers.
- We need fifty-one signatures on the petition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for figures, percentages, or rankings (e.g., 'fifty-one per cent shareholder control').
Academic
Used in statistical data, referencing page numbers, or describing sample sizes.
Everyday
Most common in stating age, quantities, house numbers, or scores in games.
Technical
Used as a plain numerical identifier in coding, model numbers, or measurements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fifty-one”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fifty-one”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-one”
- Writing as 'fifty one' without the hyphen in formal writing.
- Incorrect verb agreement: 'Fifty-one people is...' instead of the correct 'Fifty-one people are...'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated in standard written English.
It is plural. For example, 'fifty-one books are on the shelf.'
No, the ordinal form is 'fifty-first' (51st).
No significant difference. Both pronounce it /ˌfɪfti ˈwʌn/.
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of fifty and one.
Fifty-one is usually neutral in register.
Fifty-one: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈwʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈwʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fifty-one percent sure (slightly more sure than unsure)”
- “Like fifty-one (an emphatic way to say 'a lot', US informal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a deck of cards: 52 cards total. 'Fifty-one' is the deck missing just one card.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS A POINT ON A SCALE (a specific, countable location).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form for the number after fifty?