# cardinals

/ˈkɑɹdənəɫz/ (US) · /kˈɑːdɪnəlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cardinals
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. church officials

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The cardinals gathered in Rome to elect a new Pope after the previous one retired.
- The college of cardinals convened in a secret conclave to deliberate on the future direction of the church's social policies.

### 2. birds

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- We saw several bright red cardinals sitting in the snowy branches of the tree.
- The male cardinals are easily distinguished from the females by their striking crimson feathers and black face masks.

### 3. numbers

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: numbers that express quantity rather than order in a series.

- Children learn cardinals like 'five' before they understand ordinals like 'fifth'.
- The distinction between cardinals and ordinals is fundamental to early mathematical literacy and linguistic development.

Usage: In linguistics, these are often called cardinal numerals.

### 4. sports teams

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

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

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

- The Cardinals won the game last night with a home run in the ninth inning.
- The Cardinals have a long-standing rivalry with the Cubs that draws massive television audiences every season.

## Examples

- The cardinals met in Rome to discuss church matters.
- After the Pope passed away, cardinals from every continent traveled to the Vatican to participate in the secret election.
- The historical influence of the cardinals extended far beyond spiritual guidance, as they often served as powerful political advisors to the monarchs of Europe during the Renaissance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.