# xvii

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/xvii
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

the number 17 written in Roman numerals. You usually see this in history books or on clocks to show the year or the hour.

For teachers: the Roman numeral representation of the cardinal number seventeen. Typically used in historical contexts, formal titles, or on clock faces to denote the hour or the century.

## Examples

- The clock shows xvii o'clock.
- The historian spent years researching the xvii century to understand the shift in European trade routes.
- While the manuscript is dated xvii, the stylistic features suggest it was actually copied much later by a scribe who was imitating an older hand.

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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.