absolute value

US/ˈæb.səˌlut ˈvæl.ju/US/ˌæb.səˈljut ˈvæl.ju/

noun

For a complex number a+bi, the principal square root of the sum of the squares of its real and imaginary parts, √(a²+b²). Denoted by vertical bars |,|.

“The absolute value |x| of a real number x is √x², which is equal to x if x is non-negative, and -x if x is negative.”

Similar
modulusnumerical value
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Meanings

nounabsolute value (plural absolute values)

plural absolute values · alternative | |

  1. mathematicsFor a complex number a+bi, the principal square root of the sum of the squares of its real and imaginary parts, √(a²+b²). Denoted by vertical bars |,|.

    The absolute value |x| of a real number x is √x², which is equal to x if x is non-negative, and -x if x is negative.

    Synonyms: modulus

Synonyms & antonyms

nounFor a complex number a+bi, the principal square root of the sum of the squares of its real and imaginary parts, √(a²+b²). Denoted by vertical bars |,|.

Similar
modulus

More synonyms by meaning

nouna real number regardless of its sign

Similar
numerical value
Broader
definite quantity

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Arabic قِيمَة مُطْلَقَة, قِيمَة مُطْلَقَة
  • قِيمَة مُطْلَقَة (qīma muṭlaqa)numerical value of a real number
  • قِيمَة مُطْلَقَة (qīma muṭlaqa)modulus of a complex number
Bulgarian абсолютна стойност, абсолютна стойност
  • абсолютна стойност (absoljutna stojnost)numerical value of a real number
  • абсолютна стойност (absoljutna stojnost)modulus of a complex number
  • модул (modul)modulus of a complex number
Catalan valor absolut, mòdul
  • valor absolutnumerical value of a real number
  • mòdulmodulus of a complex number
  • valor absolutmodulus of a complex number
Chinese Mandarin 絕對值 /绝对值
  • 絕對值 /绝对值 (juéduìzhí)numerical value of a real number
Czech absolutní hodnota
  • absolutní hodnotanumerical value of a real number
Danish numerisk værdi
  • numerisk værdinumerical value of a real number
Dutch absolute waarde, modulus
  • absolute waardenumerical value of a real number
  • modulusmodulus of a complex number
Esperanto absoluta valoro, absoluta valoro
  • absoluta valoronumerical value of a real number
  • absoluta valoromodulus of a complex number
  • modulomodulus of a complex number
Finnish itseisarvo, itseisarvo
  • itseisarvonumerical value of a real number
  • itseisarvomodulus of a complex number
  • modulimodulus of a complex number
French valeur absolue, module
  • valeur absoluenumerical value of a real number
  • modulemodulus of a complex number
  • valeur absoluemodulus of a complex number
German Absolutwert, Absolutbetrag
  • Absolutwertnumerical value of a real number
  • Absolutbetragnumerical value of a real number
  • Betragnumerical value of a real number
  • Absolutwertmodulus of a complex number
  • Absolutbetragmodulus of a complex number
  • Betragmodulus of a complex number
Hebrew ערך מוחלט, עֵרֶךְ מֻחְלַט
  • ערך מוחלטnumerical value of a real number
  • עֵרֶךְ מֻחְלַט (érekh mukhlát)numerical value of a real number
Hindi निरपेक्ष मान, निरपेक्ष मान
  • निरपेक्ष मान (nirpekṣ mān)numerical value of a real number
  • निरपेक्ष मान (nirpekṣ mān)modulus of a complex number
Hungarian abszolút érték, abszolút érték
  • abszolút értéknumerical value of a real number
  • abszolút értékmodulus of a complex number
Italian valore assoluto, modulo
  • valore assolutonumerical value of a real number
  • modulomodulus of a complex number
  • valore assolutomodulus of a complex number
Japanese 絶対値, 絶対値
  • 絶対値 (zettaichi)numerical value of a real number
  • 絶対値 (zettaichi)modulus of a complex number
Korean 절대값
  • 절대값 (jeoldaegap)numerical value of a real number
Malay nilai mutlak
  • nilai mutlaknumerical value of a real number
Polish wartość bezwzględna, wartość bezwzględna
  • wartość bezwzględnanumerical value of a real number
  • wartość bezwzględnamodulus of a complex number
Portuguese valor absoluto, módulo
  • valor absolutonumerical value of a real number
  • módulomodulus of a complex number
Romanian valoare absolută
  • valoare absolutănumerical value of a real number
Russian абсолю́тная величина́, абсолю́тная величина́
  • абсолю́тная величина́ (absoljútnaja veličiná)numerical value of a real number
  • абсолю́тная величина́ (absoljútnaja veličiná)modulus of a complex number
  • мо́дуль (módulʹ)modulus of a complex number
Slovak absolútna hodnota, absolútna hodnota
  • absolútna hodnotanumerical value of a real number
  • absolútna hodnotamodulus of a complex number
  • modulmodulus of a complex number
Spanish valor absoluto, módulo
  • valor absolutonumerical value of a real number
  • módulomodulus of a complex number
  • valor absolutomodulus of a complex number
  • magnitudmodulus of a complex number
Swedish absolutbelopp, belopp
  • absolutbeloppnumerical value of a real number
  • beloppnumerical value of a real number
  • absolutbeloppmodulus of a complex number
  • beloppmodulus of a complex number
  • modulusmodulus of a complex number
Tagalog halgang wagas, halgang wagas
  • halgang wagasnumerical value of a real number
  • halgang wagasmodulus of a complex number
Vietnamese giá trị tuyệt đối
  • giá trị tuyệt đốinumerical value of a real number
Cite this entry
APA

absolute value. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20value

MLA

“absolute value.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20value. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “absolute value,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20value.

Source: absolute value on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.