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ordinal number

noun

Definition of ordinal number

1 : a number designating the place (such as first, second, or third) occupied by an item in an ordered sequence — see Table of Numbers
2 : a number assigned to an ordered set that designates both the order of its elements and its cardinal number

Examples of ordinal number in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Interestingly enough, Kruskal's tree theorem required non-finite mathmatics to prove, using advanced techniques such as transfinite arithmetic and ordinal numbers. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Wrap Your Head Around the Enormity of the Number TREE(3)," 20 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of ordinal number

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for ordinal number

ordinal number

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ordinal number

: a number (such as first, fifth, or 22nd) that is used to show the position of someone or something in a series

See the full definition for ordinal number in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ordinal number

noun

Kids Definition of ordinal number

: a number that is used to show the place (as first, fifth, 22nd) taken by an element in a series

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