numerical

adjective

nu·​mer·​i·​cal nu̇-ˈmer-i-kəl 

nyu̇-

1

: of or relating to numbers

the numerical superiority of the enemy

2

: expressed in or involving numbers or a number system

numerical standing in a class

a numerical code

numerically

nu̇-ˈmer-i-k(ə-)lē 

nyu̇-

adverb

Examples of numerical in a Sentence

The files are organized according to a numerical system.

The files are in numerical order.

Recent Examples on the Web

That could include model weights and the numerical parameters that have been shaped during training, as well as internal evaluations, red-team transcripts and incident reports. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

The drug, camizestrant, sold as Etcamah, showed a numerical but not statistically significant improvement when tested in combination with Pfizer’s cancer medicine Palbociclib (sold as Ibrance), AstraZeneca said late Friday. — Sean Conlon,elsa Ohlen,justina Lee,alex Harring, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026

Both the house and its environment have, as a result, led to intense research into the field of sacred geometry, including naturally occurring numerical patterns such as the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026

Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin numerus number entry 1 + -ical

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing numerical

• numerical analysis
• numerical taxonomy

Rhymes for numerical

• chimerical
• hysterical
• anticlerical
• hemispherical
• clerical
• spherical

Kids Definition

numerical

adjective

nu·​mer·​i·​cal n(y)u̇-ˈmer-i-kəl 

1

: of or relating to numbers

2

: shown in or involving numbers or a number system

numerical order

numerically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb