Word
numeral
Phoneticsnu·mer·al, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnumɝəɫ/
UK/njˈuːməɹəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a word or symbol that represents a number. You use this to talk about the different ways we write or say numbers, like 'one' or '1'.
n. a word, phrase, or symbol that represents a number. In linguistics, it refers to the part of speech that expresses a quantity or a numerical value.
Examples
“The word 'five' is a numeral.”
“In many languages, the numeral 'one' changes its form depending on the gender of the noun it describes.”
“The study of numeral systems reveals how different cultures conceptualize quantity, ranging from simple tally marks to complex positional notations like the Hindu-Arabic system.”
Examples
simple
“The word 'five' is a numeral.”
contextual
“In many languages, the numeral 'one' changes its form depending on the gender of the noun it describes.”
complex
“The study of numeral systems reveals how different cultures conceptualize quantity, ranging from simple tally marks to complex positional notations like the Hindu-Arabic system.”
Real-World Examples
“In 1299, Florentine officials went as far as to ban the use of Hindu-Arabic numerals, especially zero, to prevent fraud.” “As my colleague Lauren Goode wrote , the displays are easy to interpret, there are no complicated dials or gauges, and the speedometer is in big, bold numerals.” “It is a pronoun - in other words it stands in for a noun– much in the same way that a pro-numeral (like x) stands in for a numeral (x = 3).” Etymology
As an adjective, from Middle English numeral, numerall, from Latin numerālis (“pertaining to a number”), from numerus (“a number”). As a noun, via Middle French numeral.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/numeral