seventy-five: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral
Quick answer
What does “seventy-five” mean?
The number 75.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number 75.
A quantity or amount equal to seventy-five. Can be used as a noun, adjective, or part of a proper name (e.g., rifle caliber, age, score).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'seventy-five' is the universal form for the number. In US English, it can also refer to the .75 caliber rifle or cartridge, though this is a historical/technical usage.
Connotations
Neutral for the number. In historical US contexts, 'Seventy-Five' may connote specific artillery pieces from WWI.
Frequency
Equally frequent as a number. The military/historical reference is rare in modern general use.
Grammar
How to Use “seventy-five” in a Sentence
NUM + N (seventy-five people)be + NUM (The total is seventy-five)NUM + of + DET + N (seventy-five of the participants)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seventy-five” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She received a seventy-five-page report.
- The seventy-five-minute journey was scenic.
American English
- He bought a seventy-five-dollar ticket.
- It's a seventy-five-mile drive to the coast.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in finance, statistics, pricing (e.g., 'The shares closed at seventy-five pence').
Academic
Used in data, research results, measurements (e.g., 'The sample size was seventy-five').
Everyday
Used for age, price, time, scores (e.g., 'My grandmother is seventy-five').
Technical
Can refer to specific models, calibers, or codes (e.g., 'a French 75mm field gun, the Soixante-Quinze').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seventy-five”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seventy-five”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seventy-five”
- Writing as one word ('seventyfive')
- Omitting the hyphen when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a seventy five year old man' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when it is a compound number between twenty-one and ninety-nine, it is always spelled with a hyphen.
Yes. As a noun: 'Seventy-five is a good score.' As an adjective (hyphenated before a noun): 'a seventy-five-year tradition'.
In a US military context, it can refer to the French 75mm field gun, a famous artillery piece used in World War I.
The main difference is the 't' sound in 'seventy'. In British English, it's a clear /t/ (/ˈsev.ən.ti/). In American English, it often becomes a flap /t̬/ (/ˈsev.ən.t̬i/), sounding like a quick 'd'.
The number 75.
Seventy-five is usually neutral in register.
Seventy-five: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsev.ən.ti ˈfaɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsev.ən.t̬i ˈfaɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dressed to the nines (not directly related, but a common numerical idiom for contrast)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Seven' and a 'Five' note. A £75 note would be a 'Seventy-Five' – a seven and a five together.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS A POSITION ON A SCALE (e.g., 'He's in his seventy-fifth year').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'seventy-five' used correctly as a compound adjective?