mathematical
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of mathematics.
mathematical truth.
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employed in the operations of mathematics.
mathematical instruments.
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having the exactness, precision, or certainty of mathematics.
- Synonyms:
- rigorous, meticulous, precise, exact
adjective
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of, used in, or relating to mathematics
-
characterized by or using the precision of mathematics; exact
-
using, determined by, or in accordance with the principles of mathematics
Other Word Forms
- mathematically adverb
- nonmathematic adjective
- nonmathematical adjective
- nonmathematically adverb
- semimathematical adjective
- semimathematically adverb
- supermathematical adjective
- supermathematically adverb
- unmathematical adjective
- unmathematically adverb
Etymology
Origin of mathematical
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin mathēmatic ( us ) pertaining to mathematics + -al 1
Explanation
Anything mathematical has to do with the science of numbers and shapes, or is as precise and exact as a mathematical calculation. If you weigh your new puppy's food on a digital scale each morning, you can say you're feeding her with mathematical precision. And when you work on problems in algebra class, you're most likely using mathematical formulas to solve them. Mathematical is derived from the Greek mathēmatike tekhnē, "mathematical science," and its root, which means "to learn."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Joachim Klement has used mathematical models to predict the last three World Cup winners.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026
Instead, it only requires a mathematical description of the proposed fluctuations and details about the measurement setup.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
Author Andy Weir incorporates complex mathematical concepts into his storytelling, focusing on the science portion of the genre.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Based on projected earnings for the year ahead, the S&P 500’s P/E is 20, which, in a mathematical coincidence, is about 20% higher than the 20-year average—a premium, but not an excessive one.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
But the comfort-loving Descartes wasn’t a fighting soldier; he found his military niche as an engineer, using his mathematical skills rather than his less-developed physical abilities.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
