Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

cardinality

noun
Save Word
car·​di·​nal·​i·​ty | \ ˌkär-də-ˈna-lə-tē How to pronounce cardinality (audio) \
plural cardinalities

Definition of cardinality

: the number of elements in a given mathematical set

First Known Use of cardinality

1935, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cardinality

cardinal entry 1 + -ity

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about cardinality

Time Traveler for cardinality

Time Traveler

The first known use of cardinality was in 1935

See more words from the same year

Statistics for cardinality

Cite this Entry

“Cardinality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinality. Accessed 27 May. 2020.

More from Merriam-Webster on cardinality

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cardinality

Britannica English: Translation of cardinality for Arabic Speakers

Comments on cardinality

What made you want to look up cardinality? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

longueur

Listen to the pronunciation of longueur

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Obscure Shapes

  • a pile of three dimensional shapes in green
  • Something that is ooid is shaped like:
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games