ninety-third
C1Formal, written, academic, statistical
Definition
Meaning
constituting number ninety-three in a sequence; the ordinal number corresponding to ninety-three.
used to indicate position, rank, or fraction (1/93). Can denote mediocrity or a low ranking in an extensive list (e.g., ninety-third out of a hundred).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in formal enumeration, historical dating, legal lists, and fractional contexts. Its use often implies a large, ordered set.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Hyphenation (ninety-third) is standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral. Can carry a slight connotation of being far down a list, but this is context-dependent.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specific enumerative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the + ninety-third + noun (the ninety-third amendment)be + the + ninety-third + to-infinitive (He was the ninety-third person to register)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ninety-third time lucky (humorous, rare variant of 'third time lucky')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in long-form corporate reports or historical company milestones.
Academic
Used in historical references (e.g., 'the ninety-third Congress passed...'), footnotes, long enumerations.
Everyday
Very rare. Typically only for specific milestones like a 93rd birthday.
Technical
Used in legal documents (amendments, clauses), statistical rankings, and precise sequencing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The ninety-third edition of the annual fair was postponed due to strikes.
- She finished in ninety-third position in the national rankings.
American English
- The Ninety-third Congress convened during a period of significant social change.
- He's celebrating his ninety-third birthday at the veterans' home.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My great-grandfather is ninety-three years old. Today is his ninety-third birthday.
- The amendment, the ninety-third to the constitution, addressed environmental protections.
- The footballer scored the winning goal in the ninety-third minute of extra time.
- Occupying the ninety-third percentile for efficiency, the new model still lagged behind its competitors in overall durability.
- The manuscript, catalogued as ninety-third in the collection, contained hitherto unknown marginalia.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a very old person celebrating their 93rd birthday; 'nine' and 'three' are in the number.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IS A NUMBER; A LONG JOURNEY IS A SEQUENCE (being ninety-third implies a long path through a sequence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Прямой перевод «девяносто третий» корректен. Ловушка: в русском может использоваться просто числительное «93-й» в более широком контексте, тогда как в английском 'ninety-third' звучит более формально и чаще пишется через дефис.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as 'ninty-third' (misspelling 'ninety')
- Omitting the hyphen: 'ninety third' (incorrect for the adjective form)
- Using 'ninety-three' (cardinal) instead of 'ninety-third' (ordinal).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ninety-third' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as an adjective (a ninety-third attempt) or a noun (the ninety-third). The hyphen is standard.
Yes, '93rd' is the standard numerical form and is acceptable in most contexts, often preferred in tables and notes.
Primary stress is usually on 'third', with secondary stress on 'nine-' (/ˌnaɪn.ti ˈθɜːrd/).
Yes. 'Ninety-three' is a cardinal number (quantity). 'Ninety-third' is an ordinal number (position or sequence).