What does sixteenth mean?
Sixteenth is the ordinal form of the number sixteen, used to identify the position immediately following the fifteenth in a sequence. It commonly appears in dates and ages, as in "the sixteenth of May" or "on her sixteenth birthday," and in historical references such as "the sixteenth century." The word can also function as an adverb, as in "She finished sixteenth," although "She came sixteenth" is generally more natural. Its form combines the root six with the ordinal suffix -teenth, a pattern that continues through twentieth, thirtieth, and other larger multiples of ten. Sixteenth is familiar in formal and everyday English alike, but it is especially associated with ordered lists, chronology, and institutional numbering.
Denoting the position of something immediately after the fifteenth in a sequence, or referring to the sixteenth item in a numbered series.
"The museum dates from the sixteenth century."
This is the primary form of the word.
Indicating an occurrence in the sixteenth position in a sequence or competition.
"She placed sixteenth in the national swimming championship."
Often used in sports, rankings, and other competitive contexts.
Sixteenth is the number that marks the halfway point of the year.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sixteenth come from?
Sixteenth comes from the Old English ordinal form sixtēna, meaning "the sixteenth," which was formed from six with an ordinal suffix. English developed several ordinal forms in -teenth from different multiples of ten: fif-, six-, seven-, and so on. The modern word reflects the general Germanic pattern of expressing these larger ordinals with -teenth rather than the more regular -th ending.
Related word forms
How sixteenth is actually used
Sixteenth is used formally in numbered series, dates, ages, and historical periods. When used as a noun in phrases such as "the sixteenth of May," it means the sixteenth day of the month.
Easily confused with sixteenth
Sixteen is the cardinal number, while sixteenth indicates the position of something in a sequence.
Sixteen is the number 16, whereas sixty is the number 60.