fourth position: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No. While its primary technical meaning is from ballet, it is commonly used in any context involving a ranking or order to mean 'fourth place'.

They are largely synonymous in ranking contexts. 'Fourth position' can sound slightly more formal or continuous (like in a league table), whereas 'fourth place' is very common in competition results. 'Fourth position' is the required term in ballet.

Often not. It's typically used without an article, similar to 'in hospital' (UK) or 'in school'. For example: 'She finished in fourth position.' However, you might use 'the' if specifying: 'The fourth position on the podium remained empty.'

The five basic positions of the feet in classical ballet are first, second, third, fourth, and fifth position. Each has a specific placement of the turned-out feet.

In ballet, a basic placement of the feet where one foot is placed in front of the other, with a space of about one foot's length between them, both turned out.

Fourth position is usually technical (ballet/arts), formal (ranking/competition) in register.

Fourth position: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːθ pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔrθ pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.