fifty

noun

fif·​ty ˈfif-tē How to pronounce fifty (audio)
plural fifties
Synonyms of fiftynext
1
: a number equal to five times 10 see Table of Numbers
2
fifties plural : the numbers 50 to 59
specifically : the years 50 to 59 in a lifetime or century
3
: a 50-dollar bill
fiftieth
ˈfif-tē-əth How to pronounce fifty (audio)
adjective or noun
fifty adjective
fifty pronoun, plural in construction
fiftyish
ˈfif-tē-ish How to pronounce fifty (audio)
adjective

Examples of fifty in a Sentence

She is in her fifties. The bill for dinner came to $43, and she gave him a fifty.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The family was living in Berkeley in the mid-fifties when, in free moments, Drexler began putting together sculptures from the contents of her junk drawer. — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 Published this week in PLoS Medicine, the study was based on responses and outcomes from a national health and diet study that included about 460,000 Americans who were in their fifties through seventies when the study began. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 15 Oct. 2026 What Paris had been to American writing in the ’twenties, New York suddenly became to American painting in the ’forties and ’fifties. — Barbara Rose, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 Next, Ryu has several other stories written, including one about actors who aren’t stars, a trip with YouTuber KwakTube and a love story about a couple in their fifties. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fifty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fifty, adjective, from Old English fīftig, from fīftig, noun, group of 50, from fīf five + -tig group of ten; akin to tīen ten

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fifty was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing fifty

Rhymes for fifty

See All Rhymes for fifty

Browse Nearby Words

fiftieth
fifty
fifty-eight
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fifty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifty. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fifty

noun
fif·​ty ˈfif-tē How to pronounce fifty (audio)
plural fifties
: a number equal to five times 10 see number
fiftieth
-tē-əth How to pronounce fifty (audio)
adjective or noun
fifty adjective or pronoun

More from Merriam-Webster on fifty

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fifty

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fifty

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