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.
But not all fans grasp the distinction between a call overturned by a tenth of an inch and one overturned by two inches. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 Despite the state’s prison population declining by almost 50% over the past two decades, CDCR’s operational spending has only decreased by roughly one tenth, when adjusted for inflation, over the same time period. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026 Hyphae are often barely five micrometers wide — about one-tenth the width of a human hair and much narrower than a plant’s root tip. Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026 More than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships pass through it. Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tenth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenth. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

tenth

noun
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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