nu·mer·al
ˈnü-mə-rəl 
ˈnüm-rə-;
ˈnyü-mə-,
ˈnyüm-rə-
plural numerals
1
: a conventional symbol that represents a number
The numeral 46 represents the number forty-six.
Such numbers, about 4,000 of them, hereafter are preceded by the numeral 3.—
Colin Ainsworth
see also arabic numeral, roman numeral
Colin Ainsworth2
numerals plural
: numbers that designate by year a school or college class and that are awarded for distinction in an extracurricular activity
He won numerals in football, swimming and track his first year when freshman were not eligible for varsity sports under NCAA rules.—Roger Cushman
Roger Cushman1
: of, relating to, or expressing numbers
binary numeral systems
2
: consisting of numbers or numerals
numeral passwords
numerally
adverb
… a numerally small but critically placed corps of military vassals.
—Cornelius J. Kiley
Cornelius J. Kiley
Examples of numeral in a Sentence
Noun
a birthday candle in the shape of the numeral 4
Recent Examples on the Web
Caché McClay, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The title of the album is in reference to both the group’s name and the Roman numeral for the number 10, representing their decade-long career.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mathematician Raul Rojas’s book about math symbols, published in January 2025 by Princeton University Press, offers the numeral nerds among us a guide to the fascinating history of mathematical symbols, some of which have become commonplace in everyday life.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numeral
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Noun
Both Jay and Bey got matching tattoos of the Roman numeral for four — IV — on their ring fingers years ago.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The title of the album is in reference to both the group’s name and the Roman numeral for the number 10, representing their decade-long career.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
At each new hour, the numeral jumps into place.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mathematician Raul Rojas’s book about math symbols, published in January 2025 by Princeton University Press, offers the numeral nerds among us a guide to the fascinating history of mathematical symbols, some of which have become commonplace in everyday life.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numeral
Cite this Entry
“Numeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numeral. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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