mathematical

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UK/ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/[ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæɾ.ɪ.kəl]/ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ə.kəl/[ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæɾ.ə.kəl]

adjective

Of, or relating to mathematics.

“a mathematical problem”

Meanings

adjectivemathematical (comparative more mathematical, superlative most mathematical)

comparative more mathematical · superlative most mathematical

  1. Of, or relating to mathematics.

    a mathematical problem

    5 more examples

    […]he looked up the uninteresting left road to the fortifications. It was new, long, white, regular, tapering to a vanishing point, like a lesson in perspective. […] Smaller and smaller she waned up the rigid mathematical road, still gazing at the soldier aloft, as Pierston gazed at her.

    1897, Thomas Hardy, The Well-Beloved

    It has been at least an academic tradition, if no more, that mathematical studies militate against amatory inclinations.

    1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 149

    Although Galileo had designed a pendulum clock, he never actually constructed one. The first pendulum clock was constructed by the Dutch physicist Christian Huygens (1629–1695) in 1657. He also developed the mathematical theory of the pendulum. Newton also studied the motion of a pendulum and experimented with pendulums made of different materials and of different lengths.

    1961, Henry Semat, Fundamentals of PHYSICS, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, page 161

    Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.

    2013 July-August, Sarah Glaz, “Ode to Prime Numbers”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4

    Look closely at the pretty seashell print on these blouses. They’re actually formulated from mathematical equations!

    2020 February 7, AJ Willingham, “What a great week for rescue pets!”, in CNN
  2. figurativelyExtremely precise and accurate, as though having the exactness of a mathematical equation.

    Lucinda Childs got her start with the postmodern Judson Dance Theater and became known for precise, almost mathematical choreographic patterns.

    2016 December 1, “Dance Listings for Dec. 2-8”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 16 Jun 2022
  3. Possible but highly improbable.

    The team has a mathematical chance of being promoted, but they need to win the next seven matches.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiverelating to or having ability to think in or work with numbers

Similar

adjectivebeyond question

adjectivestatistically possible though highly improbable

Similar

adjectivecharacterized by the exactness or precision of mathematics

Similar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinmathēmaticālis
  2. Middle Englishmathematicalle
  3. Englishmathematical

From Middle English mathematicalle, mathematical, from Medieval Latin mathēmaticālis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek μαθηματικός
  • μαθηματικός (mathēmatikós)of, or relating to mathematics
Arabic رِيَاضِيّ
  • رِيَاضِيّ (riyāḍiyy)of, or relating to mathematics
Bulgarian математически
  • математически (matematičeski)of, or relating to mathematics
Catalan matemàtic
  • matemàticof, or relating to mathematics
Czech matematický
  • matematickýof, or relating to mathematics
Danish matematisk
  • matematiskof, or relating to mathematics
Dutch wiskundig, theoretisch
  • wiskundigof, or relating to mathematics
  • theoretischpossible but highly improbable
Esperanto matematika
  • matematikaof, or relating to mathematics
Finnish matemaattinen, teoreettinen
  • matemaattinenof, or relating to mathematics
  • teoreettinenpossible but highly improbable
French mathématique
  • mathématiqueof, or relating to mathematics
German mathematisch, rechnerisch
  • mathematischof, or relating to mathematics
  • rechnerischpossible but highly improbable
Hebrew מָתֵמָטִי
  • מָתֵמָטִי (matematí)of, or relating to mathematics
Hindi गणितीय
  • गणितीय (gaṇitīya)of, or relating to mathematics
Hungarian matematikai
  • matematikaiof, or relating to mathematics
Icelandic stærðfræðilegur
  • stærðfræðilegurof, or relating to mathematics
Irish matamaiticiúil
  • matamaiticiúilof, or relating to mathematics
Italian matematico
  • matematicoof, or relating to mathematics
Latin mathēmaticus, mathēmaticālis
  • mathēmaticusof, or relating to mathematics
  • mathēmaticālisof, or relating to mathematics
Latvian matemātisks
  • matemātisksof, or relating to mathematics
Lithuanian matematinis
  • matematinisof, or relating to mathematics
Norwegian teoretisk
  • teoretiskpossible but highly improbable
Norwegian Bokmål matematisk
  • matematiskof, or relating to mathematics
Norwegian Nynorsk matematisk
  • matematiskof, or relating to mathematics
Polish matematyczny
  • matematycznyof, or relating to mathematics
Portuguese matemático
  • matemáticoof, or relating to mathematics
Romanian matematic
  • matematicof, or relating to mathematics
Russian математи́ческий
  • математи́ческий (matematíčeskij)of, or relating to mathematics
Scottish Gaelic matamataigeach
  • matamataigeachof, or relating to mathematics
Slovak matematický
  • matematickýof, or relating to mathematics
Spanish matemático
  • matemáticoof, or relating to mathematics
Swedish matematisk, matematisk
  • matematiskof, or relating to mathematics
  • matematiskpossible but highly improbable
Tagalog sipnayin, sipnayanin
  • sipnayinof, or relating to mathematics
  • sipnayaninof, or relating to mathematics
Turkish matematiksel
  • matematikselof, or relating to mathematics
Ukrainian математи́чний
  • математи́чний (matematýčnyj)of, or relating to mathematics
Welsh mathemategol
  • mathemategolof, or relating to mathematics

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“mathematical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mathematical. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mathematical,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mathematical.

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