fifth
- 01 A1 Beginner
num.coming after the fourth thing in a list or sequence.
num.the ordinal number matching the cardinal number five.
Simple“This is the fifth time I have tried to call him today.”
In context“The fifth chapter of the report provides a detailed analysis of the fiscal year's unexpected losses.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.one of five equal parts of a whole thing.
n.one of five equal parts into which a whole is or may be divided.
Simple“He ate a fifth of the cake before anyone else arrived.”
In context“Approximately one fifth of the local population remains below the poverty line despite recent economic growth.”
Synonymsone fifth - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the distance between the first and fifth notes in a musical scale.
n.the interval between a given tone and another tone five scale degrees above it.
Simple“The singer struggled to hit the perfect fifth in the chorus.”
In context“The composer utilized a series of parallel fifths to create a stark, medieval atmosphere in the opening movement.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the right in the US to refuse to answer questions in court to avoid getting in trouble.
n.the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution, specifically the right against self-incrimination.
Simple“When asked who broke the window, the boy decided to plead the fifth.”
In context“The witness chose to plead the fifth rather than risk admitting to his involvement in the conspiracy.”
UsageUsually used in the phrase 'plead the fifth'.
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a bottle of strong alcohol that holds about 750 milliliters.
n.a unit of volume for liquor, formerly one-fifth of a US gallon, now standardized as 750 milliliters.
Simple“He bought a fifth of whiskey for the weekend party.”
In context“The shelf was lined with various fifths of gin and vodka, all imported from small European distilleries.”
Usage fifth heatwave · fifth year · fifth hottest
PIE word *pénkʷe From Middle English fifthe, fifte, fift, from Old English fīfta (“fifth”), from Proto-Germanic fimftô (“fifth”) or femftô, equivalent to five + -th (ordinal suffix). Cognate with Scots fift, fyft (“fifth”), North Frisian fyfde (“fifth”), West Frisian fyfde (“fifth”), Dutch vijfde (“fifth”), Low German fifte, föfte, füfte (“fifth”), German fünfte (“fifth”), Danish femte (“fifth”), Swedish femte (“fifth”), Icelandic fimmta (“fifth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.