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
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characterized by or using the precision of mathematics; exact
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using, determined by, or in accordance with the principles of mathematics
Other Word Forms
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.
Hamilton's fourth place means both he and fellow Briton Russell just about retain a mathematical chance of winning the championship.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
As a model processed one of the zones, researchers added specific mathematical signals mimicking negative states.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026
That rapid improvement meant it was ready for a more grueling test of mathematical knowledge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Through exact mathematical derivations, they determined how strongly each excited state interacts with the movements of nearby atoms.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
Long before the electronic device we now know as a computer came into being, “computer” was the job title given to the women who performed mathematical calculations for Langley’s engineers.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
