fourteen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (Used in all registers from formal to informal)
Quick answer
What does “fourteen” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and four.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and four; 14.
1. The age of fourteen years. 2. The fourteenth in a set or series (e.g., Chapter Fourteen). 3. A group or set of fourteen people or things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
In both varieties, often associated with the transition into adolescence (legal age for certain activities varies).
Frequency
Equally common and essential in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “fourteen” in a Sentence
NUM + N (fourteen books)BE + fourteen + years oldat the age of fourteenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fourteen” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She has fourteen first cousins.
- The meeting lasted fourteen minutes.
American English
- He made fourteen free throws.
- We need fourteen more signatures.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports, data, or specifications (e.g., 'fourteen departments', 'a fourteen-day period').
Academic
Used for numbering, quantification, and statistical reporting.
Everyday
Extremely common for stating age, quantity, time, and order.
Technical
Used as a numeral value in all technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fourteen”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fourteen”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fourteen”
- Spelling: 'fourty' instead of 'fourteen' (confusion with 'forty').
- Pronunciation: Putting primary stress on the first syllable (e.g., /ˈfɔːrtiːn/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Fourteen' is 14 (4+10). 'Forty' is 40 (4x10). The spelling 'four' changes to 'for' in 'forty'.
The primary stress is on the second syllable: four-TEEN. The first syllable has secondary stress.
Yes, e.g., 'She got a fourteen out of twenty on the test' or 'A group of fourteen arrived.'
It depends on style guides. Often, numbers one to nine are written as words, and 10 and above as numerals. However, at the start of a sentence, always write it out: 'Fourteen people attended.'
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and four.
Fourteen: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːˈtiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːrˈtiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sweet fourteen (rare, modelled on 'sweet sixteen')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FOUR followed by TEEN – think of the four years after you become a 'teen' (at ten).
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY/HEIGHT (e.g., 'numbers go up', 'he's fourteen years old').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the standard British IPA transcription for 'fourteen'?