cardinal number

[ kahr-dn-l nuhm-ber ]

noun
  1. Also called cardinal numeral . any of the numbers that express amount, as one, two, three, etc. (distinguished from ordinal number).

  2. Also called potency, power. Mathematics. a number or symbol analogous to the number of elements in a finite set, being identical for two sets that can be placed into one-to-one correspondence: The cardinal number of the set a1, a2, … an is n.

Origin of cardinal number

1
First recorded in 1585–95

Words Nearby cardinal number

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How to use cardinal number in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cardinal number

cardinal number

noun
  1. a number denoting quantity but not order in a set: Sometimes shortened to: cardinal

  2. maths logic

    • a measure of the size of a set that does not take account of the order of its members: Compare natural number

    • a particular number having this function

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for cardinal number

cardinal number

[ kärdn-əl ]


  1. A number, such as 3, 11, or 412, used in counting to indicate quantity but not order. Compare ordinal number.

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