ninety-seventh
MediumNeutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number that follows ninety-sixth and precedes ninety-eighth.
The position or item number in a sequence; used metaphorically to indicate something of very low probability or small importance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily functions as an adjective (the ninety-seventh time) or a noun (coming in ninety-seventh). Its usage is almost entirely literal and numerical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical or spelling differences. The construction of ordinal numbers (ninety-seventh) is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Frequency of use is tied directly to the need to specify this particular ordinal number, which is equally low in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[definite article] + ninety-seventh + singular countable noun (e.g., the ninety-seventh attempt)ordinal + in + sequence (e.g., ninety-seventh in line)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not on your ninety-seventh birthday! (An emphatic refusal, implying something will never happen).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports, rankings, or lists (e.g., 'Our company ranked ninety-seventh in the global survey').
Academic
Used in historical chronology, statistical sequences, or page/chapter references.
Everyday
Used when referring to birthdays, anniversaries, or positions in a queue/race.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing, such as in computing, engineering, or data analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her ninety-seventh birthday with a quiet party.
- The athlete finished in ninety-seventh position.
American English
- He made his ninety-seventh sale of the quarter.
- This is the ninety-seventh edition of the manual.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother is ninety-seven years old. Next week is her ninety-seventh birthday.
- Our team came ninety-seventh out of one hundred in the competition.
- This is the ninety-seventh page of the book.
- After ninety-six failed experiments, the ninety-seventh finally yielded a positive result.
- The amendment was the ninety-seventh to be proposed during the lengthy parliamentary session.
- Statistically, such an event has a probability of less than one in ninety-seven, making it the ninety-seventh thing a prudent investor would consider.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the year 1997. 'Ninety-seven' is the cardinal, so 'ninety-seventh' is the ordinal for that position.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEQUENCE IS POSITION ON A PATH (e.g., 'far down the list').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation is straightforward: 'девяносто седьмой'. Ensure the noun agrees in gender and case (девяносто седьмой этаж, девяносто седьмая страница).
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the hyphen (incorrect: ninety seventh).
- Incorrectly forming the ordinal suffix (incorrect: ninety-seven-th).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'ninety-seventh' should always be written with a hyphen when used as an ordinal adjective or noun.
Yes, '97th' is a common and acceptable abbreviation in most informal and some formal contexts (e.g., charts, notes).
The '-th' is pronounced as an unvoiced dental fricative /θ/, similar to the 'th' in 'think' or 'month'.
The main difference is in the vowel of 'ninety'. British English tends to use /aɪ/ (as in 'eye'), while American English often has a more nasalised /aɪ/ and may pronounce the 't' in 'ninety' more like a soft 'd' (flap) in connected speech.