fifties

noun

1. (form-of, plural)plural of fifty
2. (plural, plural-only)The sixth decade of a century: the 1850s, 1950s, 2050s, etc.

   “I will probably be dead by the fifties.”

   “The fifties were the heyday of the excursion train, with the 1851 Exhibition naturally giving a great boost to such traffic.”

   “America in the fifties also had its share of reactionary political violence.”

3. (plural, plural-only)The decade of one's life from age 50 through age 59.

   “You don't really start living until you're in your fifties!”

   “[…] doing variations on Old Devil Moon on trumpet, backed by an aging hippy on drums, a stringbeany, college student type on upright bass, and a balding man in his fifties playing an effectively understated piano.”

   “Albrecht Lein reports that the core of the Braunschweig Antifa was made up of KPD and SPD members in their forties and fifties who had avoided the front, though Catholic workers’ organizations and other forces were also involved.”

4. (plural, plural-only)The range between 50 and 59 Fahrenheit.

   “It can't snow tonight; it's forecast to be in the fifties!”

adj

1. (not-comparable)From or evoking the 51st through 60th years of a century (chiefly the 1950s).

   “Don't bring ambrosia, this isn't a fifties potluck.”

   “As they inspect the message, "Happy B-day Netta," the bakery clerk places four plastic figures around the edges of the cake. The figures have fifties hairstyles and clothing, and they are in rock 'n roll dancing poses.”