tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s  ˈten(t)ths 

1

: one that is number ten in a series

the tenth of February

She was the tenth in line.

see Table of Numbers

2

: one of ten equal parts of something

He sold the car for a tenth of its value.

3

a

: a musical interval embracing an octave and a third

b

: the tone at this interval

tenth adjective or adverb

the tenth floor

the world's tenth largest company

Examples of tenth in a Sentence

He was tenth in line.

He traded stocks for one tenth their face value.

I only paid a tenth of what you did for that jacket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some areas of Wisconsin saw a tenth of an inch of ice or more Sunday. —CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025

Roughly a tenth of the small group overseeing the FAFSA rollout has also taken buyouts or retired. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025

Fine has managed barely a tenth of that, raising about $987,000 from November 26 to March 12, according to data from the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

The appetizer for those was expected to arrive late Wednesday into Thursday, with a system that’s expected to drop about a tenth of an inch of most of the region and perhaps a half-inch in the North Bay. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tenth

• tenth-rate

Kids Definition

tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s 

ˈten(t)ths

1

: one that is number 10 in a series see number

2

: one of 10 equal parts of something

3

: the one numbered 10 in a countable series

tenth adjective or adverb