arithmetic

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

: computation, calculation

arithmetic

ˌer-ith-ˈme-tik 

ˌa-rith-

adjective

or arithmetical

ˌer-ith-ˈme-ti-kəl 

ˌa-rith-

arithmetically

ˌer-ith-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌa-rith-

adverb

arithmetician

ə-ˌrith-mə-ˈti-shən 

noun

arithmetician

2 of 2

noun (2)

arith·​me·​ti·​cian ə-ˌrith-mə-ˈti-shən sometimes ˌa-ˌrith- or ˌer-ˌith- 

plural -s

: one skilled in arithmetic

Synonyms of arithmetic

Noun (1)

• math
• calculation
• mathematics

Examples of arithmetic in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

In payments, the arithmetic is unforgiving, and revenue growth alone tells you almost nothing. — Serhii Zakharov, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

There is also some fairly straightforward arithmetic behind the expansion even in a difficult art market, which has seen galleries reduce their footprints or close altogether. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

And that's where complicated German coalition arithmetic comes into play. — Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

The arithmetic may be possible depending on the dates and figures used. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English arsmetrik, from Anglo-French arismatike, from Latin arithmetica, from Greek arithmētikē, from feminine of arithmētikos arithmetical, from arithmein to count, from arithmos number; akin to Old English rīm number, and perhaps to Greek arariskein to fit

Noun (2)

Middle French arithmeticien, from arithmetique arithmetic (alteration—influenced by Latin arithmetica or Greek arithmētikē —of arismetique) + -ien -ian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing arithmetic

• arithmetic average
• arithmetic mean
• arithmetic progression
• arithmetic scale
• modular arithmetic

Rhymes for arithmetic

• alphabetic
• anaesthetic
• anesthetic
• antithetic
• apathetic
• cybernetic
• diabetic
• dietetic
• diuretic
• empathetic
• energetic
• geodetic

Kids 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

arithmetic

ˌar-ith-ˈmet-ik 

adjective

or arithmetical

-ˈmet-i-kəl 

arithmetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

arithmetician

ə-ˌrith-mə-ˈtish-ən 

noun