sixty

noun

six·​ty ˈsiks-tē 

plural sixties

1

: a number that is equal to six times 10 see Table of Numbers

2

sixties plural : the numbers 60 to 69

specifically : the years 60 to 69 in a lifetime or century

sixtieth

ˈsiks-tē-əth 

adjective or noun

sixty adjective

sixty pronoun, plural in construction

sixtyish

ˈsiks-tē-ish 

adjective

Examples of sixty in a Sentence

He retired when he was in his sixties.

Recent Examples on the Web

His colleagues were men in their fifties and sixties who’d started out in radio. —Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

In the sixties, amidst the moon landing, the first artificial heart transplant, and the invention of the cassette tape, came another male innovation: the feminine-hygiene deodorant spray. —Isabella Rosario, Outside Online, 19 Dec. 2024

These writers cited years in the sixties as if each stood in for a whole world of musical meaning. —Mitch Therieau, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024

For Versace’s Spring-Summer 2024 runway, models were dressed in swingin’ sixties mini-dresses and given tasteful miniature bouffants. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from sixty, adjective, from Old English siextig, noun, group of sixty, from siex six + -tig group of ten; akin to Old English tīen ten

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sixty

• sixty-fourth note
• sixty-fourth rest
• sixty-nine

Kids Definition

sixty

noun

six·​ty ˈsik-stē 

plural sixties

: a number that is equal to six times 10 see number

sixtieth

-stē-əth 

adjective or noun

sixty adjective or pronoun