fifty

noun

fif·​ty ˈfif-tē 

plural fifties

1

: a number equal to five times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

fifties plural : the numbers 50 to 59

specifically : the years 50 to 59 in a lifetime or century

3

: a 50-dollar bill

fiftieth

ˈfif-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

fifty adjective

fifty pronoun, plural in construction

fiftyish

ˈfif-tē-ish 

adjective

Examples of fifty in a Sentence

She is in her fifties.

The bill for dinner came to $43, and she gave him a fifty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gary has been trying to get more support from U.S. Steel since at least the fifties. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Lee was previously diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in her fifties and given a one-year life expectancy, according to Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025

She was previously diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in her fifties and was given less than one year to live, but was diagnosed as cancer free 13 years later. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 2 Feb. 2025

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his fifties had been arrested Thursday evening at the museum. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fifty, adjective, from Old English fīftig, from fīftig, noun, group of 50, from fīf five + -tig group of ten; akin to tīen ten

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fifty

• fifty-fifty

Kids Definition

fifty

noun

fif·​ty ˈfif-tē 

plural fifties

: a number equal to five times 10 see number

fiftieth

-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

fifty adjective or pronoun