What does sixtieth mean?
“Sixtieth” is the ordinal number for sixty. It identifies the position immediately after fifty-nine, as in “the sixtieth person to sign the register,” and is especially common in references to birthdays, anniversaries, years, and other milestones. As a noun, “the sixtieth” names the sixtieth member of a group or sequence. The word is straightforward and neutral in tone, but it often carries the reflective significance of marking sixty years. It is also used when precision matters in rankings, schedules, and historical numbering. Although “sixtieth” is grammatically an ordinal like “fiftieth” and “seventieth,” it is particularly memorable because it marks a long and traditionally significant span of time.
Denoting the number or position sixty, or occurring in the sixtieth year of a period.
"The museum marks the sixtieth anniversary of its founding."
Common in dates, anniversaries, rankings, and other formal enumerations.
The member of a sequence numbered sixty.
"She was the sixtieth person to finish the challenge."
Usually used with the definite article: “the sixtieth.”
The sixtieth marks a full sixty years, making it one of life’s classic milestones for birthdays, anniversaries, and reflections on the decades behind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sixtieth come from?
“Sixtieth” belongs to the English number system based on “six,” from Old English sex and related forms inherited from Proto-Germanic. Its structure reflects the development of English ordinals: “sixty” is the cardinal form, while “sixtieth” is the corresponding ordinal. The related forms “sixteen,” “sextet,” and “sexagenary” also ultimately trace to the same Indo-European numerical root for six.
Related word forms
How sixtieth is actually used
The form is used mainly as an ordinal adjective, especially in dates, anniversaries, and rankings. As a noun, it normally takes “the,” as in “the sixtieth.”