Word
forties
Phoneticsfor·ties
US/ˈfɔɹtiz/
UK/fˈɔːtɪz/
Definition
n. the years between 40 and 49 in a person's life or in a century. You use this to talk about someone's age or a specific time in history.
n. the decade between the ages of 40 and 49, or the years from '40 to '49 within a century. Refers to a collective span of time or age.
Examples
“She is in her late forties and loves her job.”
“The fashion of the nineteen-forties was heavily influenced by the practical needs of the wartime era.”
“Many professionals find that their forties represent a peak in their career trajectory, combining significant experience with continued physical and mental energy.”
Examples
simple
“She is in her late forties and loves her job.”
contextual
“The fashion of the nineteen-forties was heavily influenced by the practical needs of the wartime era.”
complex
“Many professionals find that their forties represent a peak in their career trajectory, combining significant experience with continued physical and mental energy.”
Usage
Always used in the plural form; typically preceded by a possessive adjective (her forties) or the definite article (the forties).
Pitfall
He is in his forty
He is in his forties
When referring to a decade of life, the plural form 'forties' must be used instead of the cardinal number.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/forties