# sixties

/ˈsɪkstiz/ (US) · /sˈɪkstɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sixties
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a decade in history

noun · CEFR A2

the years from '60 to '69 in a century, especially the 1960s.

For teachers: the decade spanning the years 60 through 69 of a specific century, most frequently denoting the 1960s in modern contexts.

- My parents loved the music and fashion of the sixties.
- The social upheavals of the sixties fundamentally altered the political landscape of Western Europe and North America.

### 2. a person's age

noun · CEFR B1

the time in someone's life when they are between 60 and 69 years old.

For teachers: the decade of a person's life beginning at age 60 and ending at age 69.

- Even in her late sixties, she still goes for a long walk every morning.
- Many professionals find that their sixties offer a unique opportunity to transition into consultancy or part-time advisory roles.

### 3. temperature range

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a temperature between 60 and 69 degrees.

For teachers: a range of temperature between 60 and 69 degrees, typically measured on the Fahrenheit scale.

- The weather was perfect today, with temperatures in the mid sixties.
- Forecasters expect the unseasonable warmth to continue, with daytime highs reaching the high sixties across most of the state.

### 4. style of the 1960s

adjective · CEFR B1

related to the style, music, or feeling of the 1960s.

For teachers: pertaining to or characteristic of the decade of the 1960s.

- She wore a sixties-style dress to the party.
- The boutique specialises in sixties furniture, sourcing original mid-century modern pieces from across Scandinavia.

## Examples

- My parents were born in the sixties.
- The sixties saw a massive shift in popular music and fashion across the Western world.
- While many associate the sixties with radical social change, the early years of the decade remained culturally conservative in most rural areas.

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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.