tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th How to pronounce tenth (audio)
plural tenths ˈten(t)s How to pronounce tenth (audio) ˈten(t)ths How to pronounce tenth (audio)
1
: one that is number ten in a series
the tenth of February
She was the tenth in line.
see Table of Numbers
2
: one of ten equal parts of something
He sold the car for a tenth of its value.
3
a
: a musical interval embracing an octave and a third
b
: the tone at this interval
tenth adjective or adverb
the tenth floor
the world's tenth largest company

Examples of tenth in a Sentence

He was tenth in line. He traded stocks for one tenth their face value. I only paid a tenth of what you did for that jacket.
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 town is nearly three times the size of Boston and has one-tenth of the population — at least for now. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 Californians are set to vote on Proposition 40, which would take 5% of fortunes above $1 billion, once, and send nine-tenths of the revenue to fund California’s Medicaid program. — Mariana Mazzucato, Time, 29 Oct. 2026 The institution’s Survey of Consumers showed that consumer sentiment actually registered one-tenth of an index point below last month. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 Mariana was a student at Devonshire Elementary School, which is four-tenths of a mile north of the crash scene on Barrington Drive, maps show. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tenth

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenth was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing tenth

Browse Nearby Words

tenterhook
tenth
tenth card
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Cite this Entry

“Tenth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenth. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tenth

noun
ˈten(t)th How to pronounce tenth (audio)
plural tenths ˈten(t)s How to pronounce tenth (audio)
ˈten(t)ths
1
: one that is number 10 in a series see number
2
: one of 10 equal parts of something
3
: the one numbered 10 in a countable series
tenth adjective or adverb
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