# ninth

/ˈnaɪnθ/ (US) · /nˈaɪnθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ninth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. position in a sequence

numeral · CEFR A2

coming after the eighth and before the tenth.

For teachers: the ordinal number matching the cardinal number nine in a series.

- This is the ninth time I have tried to call the bank today.
- The ninth chapter of the report provides a detailed breakdown of the fiscal discrepancies discovered during the autumn audit.

### 2. a fraction

noun · CEFR B1

one of nine equal parts of a whole.

For teachers: one of nine equal parts into which a whole is or may be divided.

- If you cut the cake into nine pieces, each piece is one ninth.
- The surveyor noted that approximately one ninth of the total acreage was unsuitable for residential development due to the high water table.

### 3. musical interval

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a musical note that is eight notes above another note.

For teachers: the interval between any tone and the tone represented on the ninth degree of the staff above it.

- The composer used a major ninth to create a dreamy, open sound.
- The pianist struggled with the reach required for the dominant ninth chord in the final movement of the concerto.

## Examples

- The pianist added a ninth to the chord for a richer sound.
- In jazz theory, adding a major ninth to a dominant chord creates a sophisticated and open harmonic texture.
- The composer's frequent use of the minor ninth creates a sense of unresolved tension that defines the melancholic atmosphere of the second movement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.