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

Ware then broke up a lob pass and the Magic drew no closer, as Miami moved up to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025

That performance moved him up another spot to sixth on the list with $49.5 billion in gains since inception, and he’s done it in much less time than most of his peers since launching his fund in 2004. —Hank Tucker, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

Having dominated the league for so long, City has dropped to sixth in the table after a run of four straight losses in November and December. —George Ramsay, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025

The Cardinals rank 24th in defensive EPA per play this season, compared to sixth for DeMeco Ryans’ Texans. —Mike Sando, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

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