forty-seventh: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (ordinal numbers beyond the first few dozen are used much less frequently)Neutral to formal; appropriate in all registers when precision with numbers is required.
Quick answer
What does “forty-seventh” mean?
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 47.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 47; the item in position number 47 in a sequence.
Used to indicate position, sequence, or a fractional part (one forty-seventh). Can also informally denote something or someone considered unimportant or late in a sequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Potential minor variation in the clarity of enunciation in connected speech.
Connotations
Neutral in both variants. In informal contexts, can carry a slight connotation of being far down a list or of minor importance (e.g., 'my forty-seventh concern').
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used primarily in statistical, historical, or enumerative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “forty-seventh” in a Sentence
[the/our/my] + forty-seventh + noun[be] + the + forty-seventh + [to-infinitive][a/one] + forty-seventh + of + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forty-seventh” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He finished in forty-seventh position in the marathon.
- This is the forty-seventh edition of the annual report.
American English
- She was the forty-seventh applicant for the position.
- They live on the forty-seventh floor of the tower.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reporting rankings, performance metrics, or versioning (e.g., 'the forty-seventh iteration of the software').
Academic
Common in historical sequencing, statistical data, and referencing (e.g., 'the forty-seventh Congress', 'the forty-seventh percentile').
Everyday
Used for birthdays, anniversaries, or describing position in a queue or list.
Technical
Precise designation in ordered sets, series, or coordinates.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forty-seventh”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forty-seventh”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forty-seventh”
- Writing as 'fourty-seventh' (incorrect spelling of forty).
- Omitting the hyphen: 'forty seventh'.
- Incorrect fractional phrasing: 'a forty-seven' instead of 'a forty-seventh'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth are consistently hyphenated.
Yes, for example: 'She was the forty-seventh to arrive.' or 'One forty-seventh of the total.'
Misspelling the first part as 'fourty-' instead of the correct 'forty-'.
The main difference is in the second part: British /ˈsevnθ/ tends to be more elided than American /ˈsevənθ/.
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 47.
Forty-seventh is usually neutral to formal; appropriate in all registers when precision with numbers is required. in register.
Forty-seventh: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːti ˈsevnθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːrti ˈsevənθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The forty-seventh hour (an extremely late or desperate moment, extending the idiom 'the eleventh hour')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'forty' (40) and 'seven' (7) combined: you've finished forty, now you're on the seventh step of the next set.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEQUENCE IS POSITION ALONG A PATH (The forty-seventh mile marker). IMPORTANCE IS PROXIMITY TO THE BEGINNING (The forty-seventh point is less critical than the first).
Practice
Quiz
In the fraction 'one forty-seventh', what part of speech is 'forty-seventh'?