numerator
Americannoun
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Arithmetic. the term of a fraction, usually above the line, that indicates the number of equal parts that are to be added together; the dividend placed over a divisor.
The numerator of the fraction 2/3 is 2.
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a person or thing that numbers.
noun
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maths the dividend of a fraction Compare denominator
the numerator of is 7
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a person or thing that numbers; enumerator
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of numerator
1535–45; < Late Latin numerātor a counter, numberer, equivalent to Latin numerā ( re ) to number + -tor -tor
Compare meaning
How does numerator compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
In math, the top number in a fraction is called the numerator. The numerator is the number that will be divided by the bottom number, or denominator. A common fraction looks like two numbers, one above the other, with a line between the numerator and denominator. One simple way to understand a fraction is to imagine a pizza. The denominator shows you how many equal pieces the pizza is divided into, and the numerator represents how many of those pieces you have. In Latin, numerator means "counter or numberer."
Vocabulary lists containing numerator
Arithmetic
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Number and Operations: Fractions
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Numbers and Arithmetic
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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.
See Examples For:
Their concern, however, stems from the level of the numerator rather than the sustainability of the denominator.
From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025
Note that the plunging ratio tells us nothing about the U.S. economy, since the economy affects both the numerator and the denominator of the ratio and therefore has no net effect on its level.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2025
You can factor the numerator and denominator to see if any of the terms can cancel one another out.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021
The numerator for this solution’s mole fraction is, therefore, 3.0 mol NaCl.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
All of these expressions, but especially 0/0, could take on any value you desire them to have, depending on the functions you put in the numerator and denominator.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
But you have so many numerators in this case that need to be overhauled, need to be fixed.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2022
Factor the numerators and the denominators, and then multiply.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 22, 2020
Subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 22, 2020
We will use this property to simplify rational expressions that contain opposites in their numerators and denominators.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 22, 2020
Reduce the fractions to like denominators, subtract the numerators and write the denominators under the result.
From Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 by Burroughs, Barkham
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.
