cardinal number

noun

1
: a number (such as 1, 5, 15) that is used in simple counting and that indicates how many elements there are in an assemblage see Table of Numbers
2
: the property that a mathematical set has in common with all sets that can be put in one-to-one correspondence with it

Examples of cardinal number in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As Super Bowl 58, which will be the first ever staged in Las Vegas, approaches, here are my all-time Super Sunday game rankings (cardinal number, season noted in parentheses): 1. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 As Super Bowl 57, to be fought by the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, approaches, here are my all-time Super Sunday game rankings (cardinal number, season noted in parentheses): 1. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2023 The result means both axioms are more likely to be true, which in turn suggests that the number of real numbers is bigger than initially thought, corresponding to the cardinal number rather than the smaller (yet still infinite) . Quanta Magazine, 23 Dec. 2021 The cardinal number 𝔡 is defined as the smallest possible size of a set of continuous functions sufficient to dominate every possible continuous function. Martin Goldstern, Scientific American, 16 Aug. 2021 With the hypothesis unresolved, many other properties of cardinal numbers and infinity remain uncertain too. Quanta Magazine, 26 Nov. 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cardinal number.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cardinal number was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near cardinal number

Cite this Entry

“Cardinal number.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinal%20number. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cardinal number

noun
: a number (as 1, 5, 15) that is used in simple counting and that tells how many elements there are in a set but not the order in which they are arranged compare ordinal number see number

More from Merriam-Webster on cardinal number

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