numerical

American  

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

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

Derived Forms

• numerically
  adverb
• numericalness
  noun
• unnumerical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of numerical

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

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

Numerical models developed there played a key role in interpreting the first helium detections made by the JWST.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Japan and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles, the military said, with assistance from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Given enough opportunities, people consistently perform better than chance on this kind of task even when the numerical difference is extremely small, according to a study published in the Journal of Numerical Cognition.

From Scientific American • Jul. 31, 2023

Numerical simulations of superconductors include simplifications to make the calculations.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023

Her thesis, “On Estimates of Error in Numerical Integration,” was included in the 1954 proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly