prime number: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Academic, technical, educational
Quick answer
What does “prime number” mean?
A positive integer greater than 1 that has no positive integer divisors other than 1 and itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A positive integer greater than 1 that has no positive integer divisors other than 1 and itself.
A foundational concept in number theory; symbolically represents purity, indivisibility, or uniqueness in some metaphorical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences; identical meaning and usage in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral mathematical term. In general discourse, may connote something special, rare, or fundamental.
Frequency
Higher frequency in academic/mathematical contexts; low in everyday conversation outside education.
Grammar
How to Use “prime number” in a Sentence
X is a prime numberCheck if Y is primeFind the prime numbers between A and BVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prime number” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The prime number theorem describes their distribution.
American English
- A prime number factorization is unique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tech/encryption contexts (e.g., 'RSA encryption relies on large prime numbers').
Academic
Core term in mathematics, number theory, cryptography, and computer science.
Everyday
Limited to school mathematics discussions or general knowledge quizzes.
Technical
Fundamental in algorithms, cryptography (public-key), hashing, and computational number theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prime number”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “prime number”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prime number”
- Saying '1 is a prime number' (it is not by definition).
- Confusing 'prime' with 'odd' (2 is prime but even).
- Using 'primary number' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, by modern mathematical convention, a prime number is defined as a positive integer greater than 1 with exactly two distinct positive divisors: 1 and itself.
There are infinitely many prime numbers, as proven by Euclid over two thousand years ago.
2 is the only even prime number, as all other even numbers are divisible by 2.
Because multiplying two large prime numbers is computationally easy, but factoring the resulting product back into its prime components is extremely difficult, forming the basis of algorithms like RSA encryption.
A positive integer greater than 1 that has no positive integer divisors other than 1 and itself.
Prime number is usually academic, technical, educational in register.
Prime number: in British English it is pronounced /praɪm ˈnʌmbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /praɪm ˈnʌmbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRIME number as a number that is 'first' in its multiplication family – it can't be broken down into smaller whole number factors except 1 and itself.
Conceptual Metaphor
A 'prime number' can metaphorically represent an indivisible unit, a fundamental building block, or something unique and irreducible in a system.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a property of all prime numbers greater than 2?