What does fifteen mean?
Fifteen is the cardinal number equal to three times five, one more than fourteen and one less than sixteen, written in digits as 15. It functions chiefly as a numeral used to count and quantify — fifteen minutes, fifteen players, fifteen pounds — but it can also act as a noun, as in rugby union, where a side fields fifteen players and may be called simply 'a fifteen', or when referring to someone's age, as in 'she's fifteen'. The word carries no particular connotation beyond the mathematical and everyday contexts in which numbers appear, though the phrase 'fifteen minutes of fame', coined by Andy Warhol, has given it lasting cultural resonance. In careful writing, small whole numbers are usually spelled out, making 'fifteen' the preferred form over '15' in most prose. Its spoken form is sometimes confused with 'fifty', especially in noisy settings or across accents.
The number equivalent to the product of three and five; one more than fourteen (15).
"Three times five equals fifteen."
Also used elliptically for a team of fifteen players (rugby union) or for the age of fifteen.
Amounting to fifteen in number or quantity.
"We walked for fifteen miles along the coastal path."
Rarely used as an inflected plural except when counting groups of fifteen, as in card games or scores.
"He scored two fifteens in the final round of darts."
Andy Warhol promised everyone 'fifteen minutes of fame' — and made a plain number immortal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fifteen
Fifteen comes from Old English 'fīftīene', a compound of 'fīf' (five) and 'tīene' (ten), reflecting the transparent Germanic pattern used to build the teen numbers from thirteen to nineteen. It is thus a native English formation rather than a borrowing from Latin or French, unlike many other number words. Cognates appear throughout the Germanic family, such as Old Norse 'fimmtán' and Old High German 'zehanfugf' in related form, all descending from the same Proto-Germanic roots for five and ten.
Related word forms
How fifteen is actually used
As a numeral, fifteen is neutral in register and appears in both formal and informal contexts. When used as a noun ('a fifteen' meaning a team of fifteen players, as in rugby union, or the age of fifteen), it is more restricted. In formal prose, numbers up to one hundred are conventionally spelled out rather than written as digits. Note the spelling: like 'fifty', it uses 'f-' rather than the 'fif-' of 'five' plus a straightforward '-teen'.
Easily confused with fifteen
Fifteen is the number 15, while fifty is the number 50 — the two are easily confused when spoken quickly or written by hand.