Word
ordinal
Phoneticsor·di·nal
UK/ˈɔːdɪnəl/
Definition
adj. showing the position of something in an ordered list, like first, second, or third. You use it to talk about order, not how many there are.
adj. relating to rank or position in a sequence rather than quantity. Often paired with 'number' to contrast with cardinal numbers that express how many.
Examples
“We use first, second, and third as ordinal numbers.”
“The teacher asks the class to write the ordinal forms of one, two, and three on the board.”
“Linguists distinguish ordinal numerals, which mark position in a sequence, from cardinal numerals, which express quantity.”
Examples
simple
“We use first, second, and third as ordinal numbers.”
contextual
“The teacher asks the class to write the ordinal forms of one, two, and three on the board.”
complex
“Linguists distinguish ordinal numerals, which mark position in a sequence, from cardinal numerals, which express quantity.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ordinal” in context.
Verb
01. contrast with ordinal
“Cardinal numbers contrast with ordinal numbers by showing quantity, not order.”
verb + prep + adj
02. treat as ordinal
“Researchers treat satisfaction ratings as ordinal data, not exact scores.”
verb + prep + adj
Adjective
03. purely ordinal
“Medal positions are purely ordinal because they show rank, not exact scores.”
adv + adj
04. strictly ordinal
“The finishing places are strictly ordinal; they show order but not time gaps.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. ordinal data
“Rankings and grades are typical examples of ordinal data in statistics.”
adj + noun
06. ordinal number
“First, second and third are ordinal numbers that show position in a race.”
adj + noun
07. ordinal position
“Her ordinal position was third out of twenty runners in the final.”
adj + noun
08. ordinal rank
“Each team's ordinal rank determines the order of the playoff draw.”
adj + noun
09. ordinal scale
“The survey used an ordinal scale from poor to excellent to rank satisfaction.”
adj + noun
10. assign an ordinal rank
“Judges assign an ordinal rank to each contestant after the performance.”
11. distinguish ordinal from cardinal numbers
“Students must distinguish ordinal from cardinal numbers in the maths test.”
12. treat data as ordinal
“We treat Likert-scale data as ordinal in our analysis.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies, as in 'ordinal number' or 'ordinal rank'.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin ōrdinālis, adjective formed from noun ōrdō (“order”), + adjective suffix -ālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ordinal