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Definition of sixteen

sixteen

/sɪkˈstiːn/
six · teen
Plural:sixteens
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sixteen Lexical Profile

sixteen Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Amounting to one more than fifteen in number; consisting of ten and six units or individuals.

Example

"The bakery arranged sixteen cupcakes in two neat rows on the display tray."

• noun

1

The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and six, coming after fifteen and before seventeen; a symbol representing this number (such as 16 or XVI).

Example

"Sixteen is a square number because it is the product of four multiplied by four."

2

An age of sixteen years, or a size, score, or denomination designated by the number sixteen.

Example

"In many jurisdictions, teenagers can apply for a learner's driving permit at sixteen."

• pronoun

1

Sixteen people, animals, or things previously mentioned or understood from context.

Example

"Over fifty teams entered the tournament, and only sixteen advanced to the regional finals."

• Rhymes for sixteen

• Nearby Words

sixline wrasse
sixpack
sixpence
sixteen
sixteenfold
sixteenth
sixth

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'siextīene', a compound formed from the base of 'siex' (six) and '-tīene' (ten), descending from Proto-Germanic '*sehs' and '*tehun'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sixteen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sixteen
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