forty-second: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MidNeutral
Quick answer
What does “forty-second” mean?
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 42.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 42; the item in position 42 in a sequence.
Often used to denote something that is one of many in a list, series, or order, implying it is not near the beginning or end but somewhere in the middle-late portion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Potential minor variations in written formatting (e.g., hyphenation or numeral representation) follow the same style guides for ordinals in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “forty-second” in a Sentence
[the/our/my] forty-second [noun][be/come/rank] forty-second[on/at] the forty-second [day/year/floor]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forty-second” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her forty-second birthday with a trip to the Lake District.
American English
- The team finished in forty-second place in the national rankings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports or lists, e.g., 'Our company is ranked forty-second in the industry survey.'
Academic
Used in referencing (e.g., page, footnote, entry in a bibliography) or describing sequential data in research.
Everyday
Most common in contexts like birthdays, anniversaries, positions in queues or competitions, and street addresses.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing in computing, engineering, or mathematics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forty-second”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forty-second”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forty-second”
- Spelling as 'fourty-second'.
- Using the cardinal 'forty two' instead of the ordinal 'forty-second' where sequence is required (e.g., 'He came forty two' is incorrect).
- Omitting the hyphen in written form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is spelled 'forty-second'. 'Fourty' is an archaic and incorrect spelling of the number 40.
Yes, though less common. For example: 'She was the forty-second to cross the finish line.'
It is abbreviated as '42nd'.
The primary difference is in the vowel of 'forty'. In British English, it is /ˈfɔːti/ (with the non-rhotic 'r'), and in American English, it is /ˈfɔːrti/ (with the rhotic 'r'). The rest of the word is pronounced similarly.
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 42.
Forty-second is usually neutral in register.
Forty-second: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːti ˈsɛkənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːrti ˈsɛkənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'forty' (4-0) and then 'second' as in '2nd place'. It's the number that comes right after forty-first.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IN A JOURNEY (e.g., 'on the forty-second day of our expedition'), SEQUENCE AS A LADDER/RANKING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form of the ordinal number 42?