seventeenth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, used across all registers from formal to informal.
Quick answer
What does “seventeenth” mean?
Coming next after the sixteenth in position.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Coming next after the sixteenth in position; constituting number seventeen in a sequence.
Each of seventeen equal parts of something; relating to the ordinal number 17; a position or point in a series; a fraction (1/17); a person or thing ranked 17th.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Date formatting preferences differ: 'the seventeenth of May' (UK) vs. 'May seventeenth' (US, common in spoken contexts).
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In US history, 'the seventeenth amendment' is a specific constitutional reference.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “seventeenth” in a Sentence
the seventeenth + NOUN (the seventeenth century)be + the + seventeenth (He was the seventeenth to arrive)a + seventeenth + of + NOUN (a seventeenth of the total)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seventeenth” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He arrived seventeenth, just after the main group.
American English
- She finished seventeenth overall in the national rankings.
adjective
British English
- Her seventeenth birthday party is next week.
- The exhibition focuses on seventeenth-century Dutch art.
American English
- He finished in seventeenth place in the marathon.
- The Seventeenth Amendment addresses direct election of senators.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in dates, fiscal quarters, and rankings (e.g., 'We ranked seventeenth in the sector.').
Academic
Common in historical periods, centuries, and enumerating points (e.g., 'the seventeenth theorem').
Everyday
Used for birthdays, dates, positions in queues, and sports rankings.
Technical
In music: an interval (seventeenth). In mathematics: a fractional part (1/17).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seventeenth”
- Spelling: 'sevententh' (missing 'ee'), 'seventien' (missing 'th'). Pronunciation: Omitting the second 'n' sound /n/ before the /θ/. Using 'seventeenth' as a cardinal number (e.g., 'I have seventeenth books' is wrong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As an adjective: 'the seventeenth day'. As a noun: 'He was the seventeenth to arrive' or 'one seventeenth'.
Pronounce it clearly as /nθ/. Make sure your tongue touches your teeth for the 'th' sound after the 'n'. Practice: 'seven' + 'teen' + 'th'.
'Seventeen' is a cardinal number (17). 'Seventeenth' is an ordinal number (17th), indicating position or order.
Yes. Common errors include omitting an 'e' (sevententh) or reversing the 'e' and 'i' (seventeinth). Remember the base 'seventeen' plus 'th'.
Coming next after the sixteenth in position.
Seventeenth is usually neutral, used across all registers from formal to informal. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sweet seventeenth (play on 'sweet sixteen')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SEVEN + TEEN + TH. Think: 'Seven' and 'teen' (like thirteen, fourteen) plus the 'th' ending common to all ordinal numbers (fourth, fifth).
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER IS POSITION ON A PATH (The seventeenth is a specific point along the sequential journey of numbers.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct written form for the ordinal number following sixteenth?