tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s  ˈten(t)ths 

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

Ephron’s novel, her tenth, follows previous books like A Cup of Tea, One Sunday Morning, White Rose, Loose Diamonds, Bruised Fruit and children’s books The Other Side of the Wall and The Castle in the Mist, among other titles. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

When looking at individual schools, Jackie Carden Elementary had the highest average attendance rate at about 77%, although Hargrave Elementary trailed by a tenth of a percentage point. — Lina Ruiz october 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Just the top tenth of one per cent hold fifteen per cent of national wealth, amounting to twenty-eight trillion dollars. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

About a tenth of the approximately 2,400 patients who come to Catalina Island Health’s five-bed emergency room need to go to the mainland for a higher level of care. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tenth

• tenth-rate

Kids Definition

tenth

noun

ˈten(t)th 

plural tenths ˈten(t)s 

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