infimum

I1N1F4I1M3U1M3
UK/ɪnˈfaɪməm/US/ɪnˈfiːməm/

noun

(of a subset) the greatest element of the containing set that is smaller than or equal to all elements of the subset. The infimum may or may not be a member of the subset.

Similar
greatest lower bound
Opposite
supremum
OriginLatin infimum →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nouninfimum (plural infima or infimums)

plural infima · plural infimums

  1. mathematics(of a subset) the greatest element of the containing set that is smaller than or equal to all elements of the subset. The infimum may or may not be a member of the subset.

    Synonyms: greatest lower bound

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(of a subset) the greatest element of the containing set that is smaller than or equal to all elements of the subset. The infimum may or may not be a member of the subset.

Similar
greatest lower bound
Opposite
supremum

Origin

  1. Latininfimum“lowest part”
  2. Englishinfimum

Borrowed from Latin infimum (“lowest part”), from infimus (“lowest”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 下确界
  • 下确界 (xiàquèjiè)element of a set
Czech infimum
  • infimumelement of a set
Finnish suurin alaraja, infimum
  • suurin alarajaelement of a set
  • infimumelement of a set
French infimum
  • infimumelement of a set
German Infimum
  • Infimumelement of a set
Japanese 下限
  • 下限 (kagen)element of a set
Polish infimum, kres dolny
  • infimumelement of a set
  • kres dolnyelement of a set
Spanish ínfimo
  • ínfimoelement of a set
Cite this entry
APA

infimum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/infimum

MLA

“infimum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/infimum. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “infimum,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/infimum.

Source: infimum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.