fifteen

IPA/ˌfɪfˈtiːn/

KK[fɪftˈin]IPA/ˌfɪfˈtiːn/

1.numberA1

Definition

the number that comes after fourteen and before sixteen, written as 15 in numerals

Example

There are fifteen students in Mr. Chen's morning class.

fifteen + plural noun

Yumi turned fifteen last Saturday and celebrated with a small party.

age: fifteen years old

Common collocations

fifteen minutes
fifteen years old
fifteen dollars
fifteen people
page fifteen
chapter fifteen

Grammar Patterns

fifteen + [plural noun]

fifteen + [unit of measurement]

fifteensingular
fifteensplural

1.nounA1

Definition

the number 15 considered as a single idea, for example as a label on a page, a size of clothing, or a score in a game

Example

Turn to page fifteen in your textbook and read the first paragraph about cell division.

page + fifteen (label)

Nikhil's lucky number is fifteen because it was his basketball jersey in school.

Common collocations

page fifteen
the number fifteen
a fifteen
size fifteen
fifteen out of

Grammar Patterns

fifteen + [classifier]

the number fifteen

Common Mistakes

There are fifteen apples' (this uses fifteen as a number before a noun, which is the number POS, not the noun POS).

Fifteen is an odd number.

use the noun form when fifteen is the subject of the sentence.

2.nounB2

Definition

a group of fifteen players who compete together as a team in rugby union

Example

Zuri's older brother was selected for the national fifteen when he was twenty-two.

the + nationality + fifteen

The Australian fifteen beat the Irish team in a close match last Saturday.

Common collocations

the national fifteen
the home fifteen
the visiting fifteen
the first fifteen

Synonyms

team
general word for any group of players; fifteen is rugby-union-specific
side
less specific than fifteen; can refer to any sports team

Grammar Patterns

the + [country/nationality] + fifteen

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively for rugby union, not rugby league (which uses thirteen players). Subject is typically preceded by a nationality adjective or place name.

Common Mistakes

He plays fifteen for the local club.

He plays for the local club's fifteen.

'fifteen' as a team noun needs a determiner or modifier.

Word family

fifteenth
adjectiveB1
fifteenth
nounB1
fifteenth
adverbB1
fifteen-year-old
adjectiveB1
fifteen-year-old
nounB1
fifteenfold
adjectiveC1
fifteenfold
adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In rugby union, 'fifteen' refers specifically to the starting team of exactly fifteen players and is tied to the sport's identity — 'the New Zealand fifteen' means the All Blacks' starting XV. 'Team' is the broadest word and works for any group in any sport or context. 'Side' is less formal and can replace 'team' in most sports ('the home side played well'), but it does not carry the exact-number implication of 'fifteen'. 'Squad' includes substitute players and coaching staff beyond the starting fifteen. 'Line-up' focuses on the list of chosen players rather than the group as a unit. Example: 'The coach announced the starting line-up for Saturday, but only the fifteen who take the field will be called the match-day fifteen.'

fifteen ↗team ↗side ↗squad ↗line-up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

fifteen or so
fifteen in total
fifteen out of twenty
fifteen years old

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fifteen comes from Old English 'fīftīene', a combination of 'fīf' (five) and 'tīene' (ten). The word has been used to count quantities since before the year 1000. Similar formations exist in other Germanic languages, such as German 'fünfzehn' and Dutch 'vijftien'.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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fifteen

fifteen — number

1. the number that comes after fourteen and before sixteen, written as 15 in numera

Grammar Patterns

fifteen — noun

1. the number 15 considered as a single idea, for example as a label on a page, a s

Grammar Patterns

Common Mistakes

2. a group of fifteen players who compete together as a team in rugby union

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Etymology

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