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

Malik Muhammad positional rankings Rankings as of mid-February. —Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

Perkins is a natural talent, but will face positional concerns in the NFL as a sort of undersized, hybrid linebacker. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026

Photons, for example, can bounce off an atom and carry off positional information about it without changing the quantum state of the system. —Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026

But the positional devaluation of running backs does force you to pause for a moment when seeing Love that high. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 12 Feb. 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