ordinal
C1Formal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
A number indicating position or order in a series (e.g., first, second, third).
Relating to or serving to specify order in a series; also used in contexts like ordinal scale in statistics and ordinal numbers in set theory.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Ordinal" contrasts with "cardinal" (numbers that denote quantity, e.g., one, two, three). It primarily functions as a noun but can also be an adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and technical registers in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ordinal + noun (e.g., ordinal number)preposition + ordinal (e.g., in ordinal terms)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; may appear in analytics discussing ordinal rankings.
Academic
Common in mathematics, statistics, linguistics, and logic.
Everyday
Uncommon; primarily used when teaching or discussing number concepts.
Technical
Frequent in data science, measurement theory, and formal logic.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The data were measured on an ordinal scale.
American English
- The survey used an ordinal ranking system.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'First' and 'second' are ordinal numbers.
- In the list, your ordinal position is fifth.
- Statisticians distinguish between cardinal and ordinal utility.
- The study's dependent variable was measured using a five-point ordinal scale.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ORDer IN a List -> ORDINAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER IS POSITION ON A LINE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "ординарный" (ordinary). Russian "порядковый" is the correct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ordinal' to mean 'ordinary' (false friend).
- Confusing ordinal and cardinal numbers in technical writing.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key conceptual contrast for 'ordinal'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used in linguistics (ordinal numbers), statistics (ordinal data), and other fields where order or rank is important.
No, 'ordinal' is not used as a verb in modern English. It functions as a noun or adjective.
'1st' (first) is an ordinal number denoting position. 'One' is a cardinal number denoting quantity.
It is pronounced /ˈɔːrdnəl/, with the stress on the first syllable and a reduced vowel in the second.