ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cardinals

n.
US //ˈkɑɹdənəɫz// UK //kˈɑːdɪnəlz// car·di·nals
  1. 1 church officials (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    the most important priests in the Catholic Church who advise the Pope.

    high-ranking officials of the Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and forming the Sacred College.

    Example

    The cardinals gathered in Rome to elect a new Pope after the previous one retired.

    Example

    The college of cardinals convened in a secret conclave to deliberate on the future direction of the church's social policies.
    • prelates
  2. 2 birds (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    bright red North American birds with a pointed crest on their heads.

    North American passerine birds of the genus Cardinalis, noted for the vibrant red plumage and crest of the male.

    Example

    We saw several bright red cardinals sitting in the snowy branches of the tree.

    Example

    The male cardinals are easily distinguished from the females by their striking crimson feathers and black face masks.
    • redbirds
  3. 3 numbers (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    numbers used for counting, such as one, two, and three.

    numbers that express quantity rather than order in a series.

    Example

    Children learn cardinals like 'five' before they understand ordinals like 'fifth'.

    Example

    The distinction between cardinals and ordinals is fundamental to early mathematical literacy and linguistic development.

    Usage

    In linguistics, these are often called cardinal numerals.
    • cardinal numbers
    • ordinals
  4. 4 sports teams (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English Sport

    famous professional sports teams in the United States, especially in baseball and American football.

    specifically referring to the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) or the Arizona Cardinals (NFL).

    Example

    The Cardinals won the game last night with a home run in the ninth inning.

    Example

    The Cardinals have a long-standing rivalry with the Cubs that draws massive television audiences every season.

Last updated June 20, 2026