arithmetic
noun
arith·me·tic
ə-ˈrith-mə-ˌtik 
1
a
: a branch of mathematics that deals usually with the nonnegative real numbers including sometimes the transfinite cardinals and with the application of the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to them
b
: a treatise on arithmetic
2
Synonyms
Examples of arithmetic in a Sentence
a software program that will do the arithmetic for you
I haven't actually done the arithmetic yet, but I suspect we're losing money on the deal.
Recent Examples on the Web
A little arithmetic gives us the answer: 3 packs of plates, and 4 packs of forks.
—
Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Demographic arithmetic is one of exponents: Just as populations expand when adults have multiple children who then go on to have their own large families, the reverse is also true.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
The impossible arithmetic of housing is a potent source of economic anxiety in Phoenix, and in many major American cities — a reality that could influence control of the White House.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Others, such as Jason Wei, a computer scientist now at OpenAI who has compiled a list of emergent abilities and was an author on the BIG-bench paper, have argued that the earlier reports of emergence were sound because for abilities like arithmetic, the right answer really is all that matters.
—Stephen Ornes, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
The arithmetic remains the same when the corporation rather than the shareholder is doing the reinvesting.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Studios have been doing this sort of arithmetic a lot lately.
—T.m. Brown, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Those symbolic numbers underpin arithmetic and mathematics.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
No set curriculum existed, and the only subjects considered necessary for middle- and upper-class girls were needlework, reading, writing, etiquette, music and a bit of arithmetic.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Demographic arithmetic is one of exponents: Just as populations expand when adults have multiple children who then go on to have their own large families, the reverse is also true.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
The impossible arithmetic of housing is a potent source of economic anxiety in Phoenix, and in many major American cities — a reality that could influence control of the White House.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Others, such as Jason Wei, a computer scientist now at OpenAI who has compiled a list of emergent abilities and was an author on the BIG-bench paper, have argued that the earlier reports of emergence were sound because for abilities like arithmetic, the right answer really is all that matters.
—Stephen Ornes, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024
The arithmetic remains the same when the corporation rather than the shareholder is doing the reinvesting.
—William Baldwin, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Studios have been doing this sort of arithmetic a lot lately.
—T.m. Brown, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Those symbolic numbers underpin arithmetic and mathematics.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
No set curriculum existed, and the only subjects considered necessary for middle- and upper-class girls were needlework, reading, writing, etiquette, music and a bit of arithmetic.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arithmetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Arithmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arithmetic. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arithmetic
noun
arith·me·tic
ə-ˈrith-mə-ˌtik
1
: a branch of mathematics that deals with real numbers and their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
2
: an act or method of computing
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