fifty-second: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal/Informal
Quick answer
What does “fifty-second” mean?
An ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 52, indicating position in a sequence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 52, indicating position in a sequence.
Can refer to the 52nd item in a series, the 52nd occurrence of an annual event, or the 52nd part of a whole.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Hyphenation (fifty-second) is standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral. Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Frequency of use is directly tied to context requiring a sequence number; no notable regional frequency variation.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-second” in a Sentence
the [fifty-second] + noun (the fifty-second state)be + [the] fifty-second + to-infinitive (She was the fifty-second to arrive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-second” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- She finished fifty-second in the London marathon.
- The team placed fifty-second overall.
American English
- He ranked fifty-second out of the candidates.
- The song charted fifty-second this week.
adjective
British English
- This is the fifty-second page of the report.
- He celebrated his fifty-second birthday in Cornwall.
American English
- They live on the fifty-second floor.
- This is the fifty-second edition of the journal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reporting periods, rankings, or versioning (e.g., 'the fifty-second quarterly report').
Academic
Used in historical sequences, page numbers, or lists (e.g., 'the fifty-second theorem').
Everyday
Common in dates, birthdays, anniversaries, or queue positions.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing, such as in computing (e.g., 'the fifty-second element in the array').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fifty-second”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fifty-second”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-second”
- Writing as two words ('fifty second') instead of hyphenated for the ordinal.
- Confusing with the cardinal 'fifty-two'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth are hyphenated when written out.
Yes, for example: 'She was the fifty-second to cross the finish line.'
The standard abbreviation is '52nd'.
The main difference is in the vowel of the second syllable: British /ˈsekənd/ vs. American /ˈsɛkənd/. The stress pattern (ˌfɪfti ˈsekənd) is the same.
An ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 52, indicating position in a sequence.
Fifty-second is usually formal/informal in register.
Fifty-second: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈsekənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪfti ˈsɛkənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the fifty-second floor (literal, but used for emphasis on height)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a deck of cards: there are 52 cards. The 'fifty-second' is like drawing the very last card in the deck.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER IS POSITION ON A PATH (e.g., 'We've reached the fifty-second mile on our journey').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form for the ordinal number?