sixties
|six/ties|
/ˈsɪkstiz/
(sixty)
six tens
Etymology
'sixty' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'sixtig', where 'six' meant 'six' and '-tig' meant 'a group of ten'.
'sixty' changed from Old English 'sixtig' into Middle English 'sixty'; the plural form 'sixties' later emerged and was extended to mean not only the number but also the decade (1960s) and the age group of people aged 60–69.
Initially, it meant 'six tens' (the number 60), but over time it evolved to include meanings such as 'the decade 1960–1969' and 'people aged 60–69'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the decade from 1960 to 1969; often refers to the cultural and political trends of that period (often capitalized as 'the Sixties').
Music from the sixties still influences artists today.
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Noun 2
the period of life when a person is aged between 60 and 69 (the 60s).
He is in his sixties and still runs every day.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the 1960s (used attributively, e.g., 'sixties fashion').
She loves sixties fashion.
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Last updated: 2025/08/16 17:32