numerical

American  

[noo-mer-i-kuhl, nyoo-] / nuˈmɛr ɪ kəl, nju- /

Also numeric

adjective

1. of or relating to numbers; of the nature of a number.

2. indicating a number.

   numerical symbols.

3. bearing or designated by a number.

4. expressed by numbers instead of letters.

   numerical cryptography; numerical equations.

5. of or relating to one's skill at working with numbers, solving mathematical problems, etc..

   tests for rating numerical aptitude.

6. Mathematics. absolute.

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numerical British  

/ njuːˈmɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting a number or numbers

2. measured or expressed in numbers

   numerical value

3. maths

   1. containing or using constants, coefficients, terms, or elements represented by numbers Compare literal

      3x² + 4y = 2 is a numerical equation

   2. another word for absolute

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Other Word Forms

• numericalness
  noun
• unnumerical
  adjective
• numerically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of numerical

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin numer(us) number + -ical

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Explanation

Anything numerical is related to numbers or can be expressed in numbers. Your height is a numerical concept, but your love for your friends is not. You will learn many numerical concepts in math class: anything that has to do with numbers in any way can be referred to as numerical. Mathematicians deal with numerical issues, but poets do not — unless they're counting syllables, which is numerical because it involves numbers. Some people are better with numerical concepts than others — like accountants, statisticians, and math teachers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

numerical

Year: 2015 Compiled by: Laura Bennett Of note: Although the numerical scale spanned from 1–10, one particularly ignominious scene earned a score of −1.

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

Beam boasts 501 billion parameters, or adjustable numerical values.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

Escher is also the first to ever explore the mathematical underpinnings of his mind-bending scenes, looking at the numerical, geometric and computational concepts that lie at the heart of his most iconic images.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Saint-Gobain uses numerical simulations and "physical tests representative of a sizeable bird impact" to test its windows against this threat.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

As we passed the shipyard where the loftsmen raised the shape of a hull according to the measurements of a model, he taught me the secret of numerical proportions and scale.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

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