Some countries use ordinal numbers to count millennia, whereas others count them using cardinal numbers.
Source: tatoeba (3661228)
Ordinal
/ˈɔɹ.dɪ.nəl/
Synonyms for "ordinal" (209 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
algebraic numberalgorismicalgorithmicaliquotarithmeticalbreviarycanoncardinalcardinal numbercategoricalcatenarycharacteristicchurch bookclassificationalclassificatorycomplex numberconsecutivedecimaldefective numberdefining
Noun(5 words)
Strong matches (63)
figurativefinitefinite numberformularyfractionfractionalgaussian integerimaginaryimaginary numberimpairimpossibleinfiniteinfinityintegerintegralirrationalirrational numberlectionarylineallinear
Show 14 more words
Noun(19 words)
fourteenthfourthhundredthiii sectionlvilxixlxxiiimillionthnineteenthninthno.number tennumeral typenumerical quantity propertyorder basedorder numberorder number generatororder orientedorder-number box
Related words (104)
Noun(36 words)
order-number columnorder-number labelorder-number systemorderedordered categoryordered dataordinal indexordinal indicatorordinal levelordinal numberordinal numerationordinal numerationspositionalrank basedrank datarank numberrankedsequence numbersequentialsevenths
Adjective(17 words)
ordered ratingordinal attribute rubricordinal attributingordinal attributionordinal descriptorordinal numbersordinal positionseventeenthseventhseventiethsixththirdtwelfthxcviixivxxixxxxiii
pairparticularpeculiarpolygonal numberpontificalpositivepossibleprayer bookprimeprime numberprogressivepure imaginaryradicalrationalrational numberrealreal numberreciprocalrectangular numberritual
Show 28 more words
ritualeround numberrubricsefer torahsequentsequentialserialserial numberseriateservice booksiddurspecialspecificsubdivisionalsubmultiplesuccessionalsuccessivesurdtaxonomictorahtorah scrolltranscendentaltranscendental numbertransfinite numbertypaltypicalvirginalwhole number
Verb(1 words)
ranked property
Adjective(1 words)
Determiner(1 words)
third estate
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: algebraic number, algorismic, algorithmic, aliquot, arithmetical.
- Sentence evidence is available for ordinal, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ordinal".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ordinal"
Keep "ordinal" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ordinal" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ordinal", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ordinal" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
7 entriesordinal adjectiveordinal dataordinal numberordinal numbersordinal positionordinal rankingordinal scale
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
184 entries1000th100th101st105th10th110th115th11th120th125th12th130th135th13th140th145th
Showing 16 of 184 words.
Sample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Eight hundredth, nine hundredth and one thousandth are ordinal numbers.
Source: tatoeba (8170382)
One is a cardinal number; first is an ordinal number.
Source: tatoeba (8985301)
"Three" is a cardinal number, while "third" is the corresponding ordinal number.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ordinal"?
Closest matches include algebraic number, algorismic, algorithmic, aliquot, arithmetical.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ordinal"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.