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

• 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

ASML’s more advanced high numerical aperture EUV systems face stitching and design constraints that are slowing adoption from customers, Scemama notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Disney’s data privacy policy notes that the numerical values created by the technology are deleted within 30 days unless they need to be kept for legal or fraud prevention purposes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

It requires assigning a numerical value to quality improvements, which varies highly by individual preference or income.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

Football reorganised around possession, positioning and numerical superiority with the ball as the centre of everything.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

To illustrate the important binomial probability model, and to provide a numerical example of a statistical test, imagine the following miniature test for ESP.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos