plural cardinals
1
: a priest of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks immediately below the Pope
The Pope appointed two new cardinals this year.
Cardinal Newman
2
: a common North American bird
Note: The male cardinal is red and the female is mostly light brown.
always used before a noun
formal
: basic or most important
the cardinal principles of news reporting
My cardinal rule is to always be honest.
The cardinal points [=the four main directions] on a compass are North, South, East, and West.
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/cardinal. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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