sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th  ˈsiks(t) 

plural sixths

ˈsiks(ts),

ˈsiks(t)ths 

1

: one that is number six in a series

We'll be arriving on the sixth.

Her office is the sixth on the left.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of six equal parts of something

one sixth of the total

3

a

: a musical interval embracing six diatonic degrees

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : submediant

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a sixth apart

sixth adjective or adverb

the book's sixth chapter

the state's sixth largest city

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb

Sixthly, don't let your screaming tenor soar an octave above all the balance of the chorus …

—Mark Twain

Examples of sixth in a Sentence

Only about a sixth of the town voted for her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Iglesias drew a walk and singled before Cronenworth pinch-hit to face a righty in the sixth. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025

Byron Buxton walked on four pitches to start the two-out rally in the sixth. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025

And catcher Hunter Goodman blasted a 405-foot homer to put the Rockies up 1-0 in the sixth. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2025

Andrew Vaughn grounded into a double play after Benintendi singled in the fourth and Baldwin got doubled off after trying to steal and racing back on a popup to shortstop Kevin Newman in the sixth. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sixth

• sixth chord
• sixth form
• sixth form college
• sixth sense

Kids Definition

sixth

noun

ˈsiks(t)th 

ˈsiks(t)

plural sixths

1

: one that is number six in a series see number

2

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the sixth tone of a scale

sixth adjective or adverb

sixthly

ˈsiksth-lē 

ˈsikst-

adverb