forty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral (common in all registers)
Quick answer
What does “forty” mean?
The number equivalent to the product of four and ten.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number equivalent to the product of four and ten; one more than thirty-nine.
Used to indicate a set or group of about forty people or things; also used in forming compound numbers and expressions (e.g., forty-first, forty-something).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Minor potential differences in date formats (e.g., 'the forty-first' vs. 'forty-one' in speech).
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with historical/cultural concepts (e.g., 'forty acres and a mule', Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “forty” in a Sentence
NUM (forty) + NOUNBE + NUM (forty)NUM (forty) + OF + DET + NOUNVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forty” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's in his forty-second year.
American English
- She took a forty-day challenge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in reports for age demographics, product quantities, or time periods (e.g., 'a forty-day payment term').
Academic
Used in statistical data, historical periods, and scientific measurements.
Everyday
Extremely common for stating age, quantity, time, and in general counting.
Technical
Used as a standard numerical value in computing, engineering, and mathematics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forty”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forty”
- Incorrect spelling: 'fourty'.
- Confusion with 'fourteen' (14) in rapid speech.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The spelling 'forty' (vs. 'fourty') became standard in early Modern English, likely for consistency with other numbers like 'fifty' and 'sixty', and to reflect the pronunciation shift.
Yes, it can be a noun referring to the number itself (e.g., 'A forty was written on the board') or to a set of forty things (e.g., 'He bought a forty of beer' – US slang).
The most common mistake is spelling it as 'fourty', by analogy with 'four'. This is considered incorrect in standard English.
Yes, 'forty winks' means a short sleep or nap. Also, 'life begins at forty' is a proverb suggesting middle age can be a new beginning.
The number equivalent to the product of four and ten.
Forty is usually neutral (common in all registers) in register.
Forty: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “forty winks (a short sleep)”
- “life begins at forty”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'For' getting to 'ty' (ten), you need four tens. Remember: four becomes fort- when making forty (the 'u' disappears).
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIGNIFICANT ROUND NUMBER (often marking a midpoint or transition, as in 'forty years old').
Practice
Quiz
Which is the correct spelling?