nu·mer·ate
ˈnü-mə-rət 
ˈnüm-rə-;
ˈnyü-mə-,
ˈnyüm-rə-
: having the ability to understand and work with numbers
The collectors themselves were recruited locally and often barely numerate. They could be sent to prison if they failed to collect the prescribed amount.—
Graham Robb
Graham Robb… more than five million Americans have some form of classroom business training. They make up an affluent cohort that is numerate as well as literate and looks to books on business for fun, profit, and instruction.—Christopher Knowlton
Christopher Knowlton
nu·mer·ate
ˈnü-mə-ˌrāt
ˈnyü-
numerated; numerating
Examples of numerate in a Sentence
Verb
numerate the dish's ingredients for me
I don't have the time to numerate all the reasons, so I'll offer just a few.
Recent Examples on the Web
Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
The rivalry between Peretti—goofy, numerate, American, straight—and Gawker founder Nick Denton—brash, anti-elitist, English, gay—lies at the heart of Traffic.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2023
Chinese leaders’ efforts to turn their vast, impoverished country into a middle-income state required a labor force that was numerate, literate, and disciplined.
—Scott Rozelle and Matthew Boswell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2022
Frederick M. Hess and Michael McShane, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
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Adjective
If lawyers can't add, and judges won't add, juries are even less numerate.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
The rivalry between Peretti—goofy, numerate, American, straight—and Gawker founder Nick Denton—brash, anti-elitist, English, gay—lies at the heart of Traffic.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2023
Chinese leaders’ efforts to turn their vast, impoverished country into a middle-income state required a labor force that was numerate, literate, and disciplined.
—Scott Rozelle and Matthew Boswell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2022
Verb
Meanwhile, California’s Democratic officials recently approved new math standards that would end advanced math in elementary and middle school and Oregon’s have abolished the requirement that high school graduates be literate and numerate.
—Frederick M. Hess and Michael McShane, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Numerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numerate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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