positional

adjective

po·​si·​tion·​al pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or fixed by position

positional astronomy

2

: involving little movement

positional warfare

3

: dependent on position or environment or context

the front-articulated \k\ in \kē\ key and the back-articulated \k\ in \kül\ cool are positional variants

positionally adverb

Examples of positional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Collier’s positional overlap with Alyssa Thomas would present some challenges, but the Mercury could figure it out since Thomas is such an excellent rebounder. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Towns finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists but turned the ball over three times, shot two-of-seven from the field, and lost his positional matchup to Davis, the former perennial All-Star whose career was derailed by injury. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026

At least last season the Chargers could point to a specific positional breakdown. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Differences between the mid- and forebrain seem to arise later, and largely due to the action of signaling molecules that diffuse through the developing brain and provide positional information. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing positional

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• benign positional vertigo
• positional notation

Rhymes for positional

• additional
• conditional
• nutritional
• traditional
• transitional
• volitional
• compositional
• definitional
• depositional
• dispositional
• intuitional
• nontraditional