sixteenth

American  

[siks-teenth] / ˈsɪksˈtinθ /

adjective

1. next after the fifteenth; being the ordinal number for 16.

2. being one of 16 equal parts.

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noun

1. a sixteenth part, especially of one (1/16).

2. the sixteenth member of a series.

3. Music. sixteenth note.

sixteenth British  

/ ˈsɪksˈtiːnθ /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal)

   1. coming after the fifteenth in numbering or counting order, position, time, etc; being the ordinal number of sixteen: often written 16th

   2. ( as noun )

      the sixteenth of the month

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noun

1. 1. one of 16 equal or nearly equal parts of something

   2. ( as modifier )

      a sixteenth part

2. the fraction that is equal to one divided by 16 ( 1/ 16 )

Etymology

Origin of sixteenth

before 900; Middle English sixtenthe ( see sixteen, -th ²); replacing Middle English sixtenthe, sixtethe, Old English sixtēotha ( see tithe)

Example Sentences

The biggest technical reason is the race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025

When Kelsey Barnard Clark won the sixteenth season of "Top Chef," set in Kentucky, she clinched victory with a dish that defied fine dining expectations: cornbread and buttermilk with crawfish, boiled peanuts, cucumber and watermelon.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2025

He continued: "These eagles are a part of our heritage, they have been absent since the sixteenth century and I would personally love to see eagles returning to Wales."

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2024

Artisan is Bayer’s sixteenth biggest investor, according to Refinitiv data.

From Reuters • Aug. 25, 2023

Too, she still felt the tiniest bit guilty about having a sixteenth birthday when her three pupils had yet to have one—and oughtn’t she have some time off on her special day as well?

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood