forty-six: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “forty-six” mean?
The number that is one more than forty-five, expressed as 46.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number that is one more than forty-five, expressed as 46.
Used to indicate quantity, position in a sequence, age, or as part of various idiomatic and cultural references (e.g., sports jersey numbers).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The number itself is identical. Minor potential differences in formatting (e.g., in lists, dates) are not specific to this numeral.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, following general frequency of numbers.
Grammar
How to Use “forty-six” in a Sentence
[There are/There were] forty-six [plural noun]She is forty-six [years old]It is on page forty-sixHe scored forty-six pointsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forty-six” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The player was forty-sixed in the final minute of the match.
American English
- The bartender forty-sixed the unruly patron.
adjective
British English
- She bought forty-six apples for the harvest festival.
American English
- He lives on Forty-Sixth Street.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for quantities, ages, percentages, or page references (e.g., 'See the data on page forty-six').
Academic
Used for citing page numbers, statistical data, or historical dates (e.g., 'The sample consisted of forty-six participants').
Everyday
Most common for stating age, time, quantities, scores, or addresses (e.g., 'I need forty-six candles for the cake').
Technical
Used as a precise numerical value in codes, measurements, or identifiers (e.g., 'Error code 46', 'a 46mm socket').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forty-six”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forty-six”
- Spelling as 'fourty-six' (incorrect; it's 'forty-six').
- Using a singular verb with a plural noun modified by 'forty-six' (e.g., 'Forty-six people is here' should be 'are here').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The correct spelling is 'forty-six'. 'Fourty' is a common misspelling.
Yes, but rarely. In informal US English (especially in restaurants/bars), 'to eighty-six' or 'to forty-six' means to refuse service or get rid of something. 'Forty-six' as a verb is less standard.
No difference in meaning. '46' is the numerical form, while 'forty-six' is the word form. The word form is often used in formal writing at the start of a sentence or for small round numbers, while the numeral is common in statistics, dates, and technical contexts.
The ordinal form is 'forty-sixth' (46th). For example, 'This is my forty-sixth birthday' or 'She finished in forty-sixth place'.
The number that is one more than forty-five, expressed as 46.
Forty-six is usually neutral in register.
Forty-six: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːti ˈsɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːrti ˈsɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a famous sports player who wears the jersey number 46, or remember it as 'forty (40) plus a six (6) on top'.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY/MORE IS UP (e.g., 'The temperature rose to forty-six degrees'), POSITION IN A SEQUENCE IS MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH (e.g., 'We've reached day forty-six').
Practice
Quiz
In which of these sentences is 'forty-six' used correctly?