fourteenth

The fourteenth is the ordinal form of the number fourteen. It is used to indicate position in a sequence or ranking, such as in lists, chapters, or dates. In writing, it is commonly rendered as the fourteenth or as 14th when using numerals.

Etymology and formation

The word traces back to Old English feowertēne, from feower meaning “four.” In modern English, the cardinal fourteen becomes the ordinal fourteenth by adding the suffix commonly used for ordinals with teens, a pattern seen in other numbers such as fifteenth and sixteenth. Thus, fourteenth denotes the position that comes after the thirteenth and before the fifteenth.

Usage and examples

The fourteenth appears in calendar and scheduling contexts, for example, “the fourteenth of July” or “the meeting is scheduled for the fourteenth.” It is also used to label sections or chapters, for example, “Chapter Fourteenth.” In legal and constitutional language, the Fourteenth Amendment capitalizes the ordinal as a proper noun when referring to that specific amendment.

Other notes

Numerically, the ordinal corresponds to the cardinal fourteen in the sequence and to the Roman numeral XIV for the base value. In mathematical contexts, one might encounter phrases such as “the fourteenth root” or “the fourteenth term” to denote positions or divisions within a set. The form remains consistent across standard written English, with the same spelling used in both formal and informal text.