fifty-third: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal, Semi-Formal
Quick answer
What does “fifty-third” mean?
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-three.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-three; the position in a sequence between fifty-second and fifty-fourth.
Can represent a specific position in a list, ranking, or ordered series; often used in contexts like anniversaries, birthdays, competitions, or legislative sessions (e.g., the Fifty-third Congress).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Hyphenation in compound ordinals (e.g., fifty-third vs. fifty third) is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: neutrality, precision in ordering.
Frequency
Frequency of use is identical, tied directly to the occurrence of the number fifty-three in various contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fifty-third” in a Sentence
[ordinal] + [noun] (e.g., the fifty-third session)[noun] + [be] + [ordinal] (e.g., He was fifty-third in line)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fifty-third” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He celebrated his fifty-third birthday with a quiet dinner.
- She finished in fifty-third position in the marathon.
American English
- The bill was introduced in the Fifty-third Congress.
- He lives on the fifty-third floor of the skyscraper.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports or lists referring to rank, performance order, or fiscal years (e.g., 'Our branch finished fifty-third in national sales').
Academic
Used in historical sequencing (e.g., 'the fifty-third recorded instance'), footnotes, or numbered lists in papers.
Everyday
Most common in celebrating birthdays or anniversaries (e.g., 'a fifty-third birthday party').
Technical
Used in precise indexing, legislative session numbering (e.g., Fifty-third Parliament), or competition results.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fifty-third”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fifty-third”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fifty-third”
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'fifty third' (should be hyphenated).
- Incorrect suffix: 'fifty-threeth' (hypercorrection).
- Confusion with cardinal number: 'He finished in fifty-three place' (should be 'fifty-third place').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard English, compound ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth are hyphenated (e.g., fifty-third, eighty-eighth).
Yes, it can function as a noun, often referring to a person or item in that position (e.g., 'She was the fifty-third to cross the finish line').
'Fifty-three' is a cardinal number denoting quantity. 'Fifty-third' is an ordinal number denoting position or order in a sequence.
The 'th' is pronounced as the voiceless dental fricative /θ/, as in 'think' or 'third'. In connected speech, the stress typically falls on the first syllable of 'third' (/ˈθɜːrd/ or /ˈθɜrd/).
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number fifty-three.
Fifty-third is usually formal, semi-formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fifty-third time's the charm (humorous variation)”
- “On the fifty-third floor (symbolic of height or corporate status)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"FIFTY-THIRD: Five fingers on one hand (five), three fingers on the other (three) – put them together for fifty-three, and add a 'd' for the order."
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IN A JOURNEY (e.g., 'He reached the fifty-third milestone in his career'), SEQUENCE AS A LINE (e.g., 'the fifty-third person in the queue').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form of the ordinal number 53?