Definition

1. Noun:
   • The period of life between the ages of 50 and 59: "mid-fifties" refers to the specific decade of a person's life, typically considered a part of middle age.
   • The historical decade of the 1950s: In a historical context, "mid-fifties" can refer to the middle years of the 1950s (e.g., approximately 1954-1956).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Age):

  • My parents are in their mid-fifties and are planning to retire soon.
  • He started his most successful business venture in his mid-fifties.

• Noun (Historical Period):

  • The car's design is a classic from the mid-fifties.
  • That musical style became popular in the mid-fifties.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in one's mid-fifties": to be aged between approximately 54 and 56.
  • She looks fantastic for someone in her mid-fifties.
• Used as a compound noun modifier.
  • He is a mid-fifties professional looking for a career change.

Variants and Related Words

• Fifties (n): The entire decade of life from 50-59, or the historical decade 1950-1959.
  • She reminisced about her fifties.
• Mid-fifties is a hyphenated compound noun. The unhyphenated form "mid fifties" is sometimes seen but "mid-fifties" is standard.

Synonyms

• Middle-aged (adj): Roughly describing the period from about 45 to 65, though less specific.
• Fifty-something (n, informal): A person in their fifties.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most common meaning refers to a person's age.
• The historical meaning is context-dependent and less frequent. When used historically, it is often preceded by "the" (e.g., ).

Noun

1. the time of life between 50 and 60