nine-tenths

English

Alternative forms

9/10ths (uncommon)

Etymology

nine + tenths

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) enPR: nīn'tĕnthsʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌnʌɪnˈtɛnθs/
(US) enPR: nīn'tĕnthsʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌnaɪnˈtɛnθs/

Noun

nine-tenths pl (plural only)

(literally) Nine parts out of ten; 90%; 9/10.
(loosely) Almost all; the vast majority.

Derived terms

possession is nine-tenths of the law

References

“nine-tenths” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, second edition (1989)
“nine-tenths, n.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary (draft revision; Mar. 2010)

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