fifty

fifty

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Pronunciation

fifty: /ˈfɪfti/

• First Syllable (/fɪf/):

• /f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative

• /ɪ/ - near-high, near-front unrounded vowel

• /f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative

• Second Syllable (/ti/):

• /t/ - voiceless alveolar stop

• /i/ - high front unrounded vowel

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Word Form Variations

"Fifty" is primarily a numeral and less commonly a noun. As such, it doesn't have typical singular/plural or verb conjugations in the same way many other words do.

• Numeral: fifty

• Noun: fifty (referring to the number itself or a group of fifty units)

• Plural (when used as a noun): fifties (e.g., "in the fifties," "a stack of fifties")

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Numeral

Definition: The cardinal number equivalent to the product of five and ten; one less than fifty-one; represented by the Arabic numeral 50.

Synonyms: half a hundred

Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a number)

Noun

Definition 1: The digit or figure 50.

• Example: "Write the number fifty on the board."

• Synonyms: fifty (as in the numeral), '50'

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)

Definition 2: A group or quantity consisting of fifty units or individuals.

• Example: "The team consisted of a fifty of new recruits."

• Synonyms: half-century (informal, often for age or time), half-hundred

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific quantity)

Definition 3: (Plural: "fifties") The decade of the 1950s, or the numerical range from 50 to 59.

• Example: "She grew up in the fifties, a time of great social change."

• Example: "His age is somewhere in his fifties."

• Synonyms: (For the decade) the nineteen-fifties, the '50s. (For the age range) late forties/early sixties (depending on context of approaching or leaving the range).

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a decade or age range)

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "When he was fifty, he decided to embark on a new career, leaving behind the steady, predictable path he had followed for decades." (From a fictional novel, e.g., The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, though this specific sentence is a general example)

• "Chapter Fifty: The Reckoning" (Common chapter title in many books)

Newspapers:

• "The city council approved the budget increase by a vote of fifty to forty-five, reflecting a narrow consensus on the controversial measure." ( The Daily Chronicle, 2025)

• "Local entrepreneur celebrates fifty years in business, highlighting a half-century of dedication to community service and economic growth." (The Business Standard, 2025)

Online Publications:

• "The article explored the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' phenomenon, analyzing its impact on popular culture and the publishing industry." ( The Verge, an online technology and culture publication, referencing the popular book and film series)

• "Breaking: Tech Giant Announces Fifty Million Dollar Investment in AI Research" (TechCrunch, an online technology news site, 2025)

• "Top Fifty Summer Travel Destinations for 2025" ( Travel + Leisure online, 2025)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "He's about fifty, maybe fifty-five. Looks like he's seen a lot." (Dialogue from a fictional movie, e.g., No Country for Old Men, though this is a general example)

• Television Series: "Episode Fifty: The Turning Point" (Common episode title in a TV series)

• Music: "I'm not fifty, I'm just living my life, enjoying every single day." (Lyrics from a contemporary song, general example)

• Podcasts: "Our guest today is a veteran journalist with over fifty years of experience covering international affairs." (NPR's Up First podcast, or similar news podcast, general example)

• Video Games: "You've collected fifty coins! Only fifty more to go." (In-game dialogue or text from a platformer or adventure game, e.g., Super Mario Bros.)

General Public Discourse (Conversations, everyday language):

• "Can you lend me fifty bucks until payday?" (Casual conversation between friends)

• "The speed limit here is fifty kilometers per hour." (Traffic sign or verbal instruction)

• "I'll be fifty next year, can you believe it?" (Personal conversation about age)

• "We need about fifty chairs for the event." (Planning a gathering)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Fifty

1. "Life begins at forty, but ends at fifty." (Groucho Marx)

2. "A man has no more character than he can command in a crisis. When a man is fifty, he has the character he is going to have." (Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls)

3. "At fifty, everyone has the face he deserves." (George Orwell)

4. "Fifty percent of the battle is just showing up." (Woody Allen)

5. "When you are fifty, you can no longer be called 'young and promising.' You are just 'promising.'" (Unknown, often attributed to various comedians)

6. "By the time a man is fifty, he has a face that is the map of his life." (Author unknown, but a common adage)

7. "I'm fifty. That's a good age to be. You've got wisdom, but you're not decrepit." (Bette Midler)

8. "Fifty years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child." (Forest Witcraft)

9. "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever." (Larry the Cable Guy, though the quote often implies a certain age like "at fifty")

10. "A fifty-fifty chance is a very good chance." (African proverb)

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Etymology

The word "fifty" has a clear and straightforward origin.

It comes from Old English, specifically from the word "fīftig". This Old English word was formed by combining two parts:

1. "fīf": This meant "five."

2. "-tig": This was a common suffix in Old English used to form multiples of ten. It's related to the word "ten" itself and to similar endings in other Germanic languages. You can see this "-tig" in other number words like "twenty" (from "twēntig"), "thirty" (from "þrīetig"), and so on.

So, essentially, "fīftig" literally meant "five tens" or "ten times five."

The first known use of "fifty" (in its Old English form "fīftig") dates back to before the 12th century. Its meaning has remained consistently the same: it has always referred to the cardinal number that represents five sets of ten, or the number that comes after forty-nine and before fifty-one. It's one of those words where the meaning has been remarkably stable throughout its history.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Fifty

1. Fifty-fifty: Divided equally; an even chance.

2. Fifty shades of grey: Used metaphorically to describe a situation with many nuances, complexities, or varying degrees, often implying moral ambiguity. (From the popular book title)

3. Fifty-yard line: In American football, the middle of the field. Used idiomatically to mean the center of attention or a crucial point.

4. Fifty-two card pickup: A practical joke where a deck of cards is dropped, and the victim is told to pick them up.

5. A fifty-thousand-foot view: (Often shortened to "a thirty-thousand-foot view" or "a ten-thousand-foot view") A high-level, generalized perspective of a situation, without getting into the details.

6. The Fifties: Referring to the decade of the 1950s.

7. Fifty large: Slang for fifty thousand (usually dollars).

8. Fifty deep: A large crowd or line extending for a considerable distance, implying a count of fifty or more people.

9. Fifty to one: Indicating very long odds against something happening.

10. To catch fifty winks: (Using "fifty" for an unspecified short period, similar to "forty winks") To take a short nap or sleep for a brief time.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of fifty from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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