Numeral vs. Number — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
A numeral represents a number using symbols (like "5" or "V"), while a number is an abstract concept denoting quantity.
Difference Between Numeral and Number
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A numeral pertains to the system of symbols or notations we utilize to represent numbers. Conversely, a number refers to the abstract concept of quantity, independent of its representation.
For example, "seven" and "7" are different numerals representing the same number. The distinction highlights the variance between the tangible representation (numeral) and the intangible concept (number).
Numerals can be expressed in various systems, like Roman numerals or Arabic numerals. However, the number remains consistent across these systems, retaining its inherent value.
Understanding the difference between numeral and number is essential in mathematical education and language studies. The numeral acts as the vehicle to express the abstract idea of the number.
While both numerals and numbers are intertwined in everyday use, discerning the distinction allows for a more profound comprehension of mathematics and linguistic structures.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A symbol or group of symbols representing a number.
An abstract concept denoting quantity.
Nature
Concrete (tangible representation).
Abstract (conceptual).
Variability
Can change based on representation system (e.g., Roman).
Remains consistent across systems.
Examples
"4", "IV", "four".
The concept of "fourness".
Use in language
Part of language's writing system.
Denoted using numerals or words.
Compare with Definitions
Numeral
A symbol used to represent a number.
The numeral 5 stands for the number five.
Number
A value that can be expressed in various numeral systems.
The number seven can be written as '7' or 'VII'.
Numeral
A word denoting a number in a particular place value.
In 'twenty-three', 'twenty' is a numeral representing two tens.
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth.
Numeral
A specific notation in a number system.
In Roman numerals, the numeral V represents five.
Number
A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.
Numeral
A linguistic representation of a number's value.
The numeral 'ten' is spelled with three letters.
Number
A member of any of the following sets of mathematical objects
Integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers. These sets can be derived from the positive integers through various algebraic and analytic constructions.
Numeral
A character expressing a number in written form.
The numeral 0 is often used as a placeholder.
Number
Numbers Arithmetic.
Numeral
A symbol or mark used to represent a number.
Number
A symbol or word used to represent a number.
Numeral
Of, relating to, or representing numbers.
Number
A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification
His telephone number.
The apartment number.
Numeral
A symbol that is not a word and represents a number, such as the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 and the Roman numerals I, V, X, L.
Number
A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers
The house that is number three from the corner.
Ranked number six in her class.
Numeral
A representation of a number composed of such symbols.
Number
One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order
An old number of a magazine.
Numeral
(linguistics) A number word, a simple or compound word for a number often having particular grammatical attributes depending on the language.
Number
A total; a sum
The number of feet in a mile.
Numeral
(card games) A card whose rank is a number (usually including the ace as 1).
Jacks, queens, and kings are not numerals.
Number
An indefinite quantity of units or individuals
The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.
Numeral
Of or relating to numbers; numerical.
Number
A large quantity; a multitude
Numbers of people visited the fair.
Numeral
Of or pertaining to number; consisting of number or numerals.
A long train of numeral progressions.
Number
Numerical superiority
The South had leaders, the North numbers.
Numeral
Expressing number; representing number; as, numeral letters or characters, as X or 10 for ten.
Number
(Grammar) The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.
Numeral
A figure or character used to express a number; as, the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, etc.; the Roman numerals, I, V, X, L, etc.
Number
Metrical feet or lines; verses
"These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).
Numeral
A word expressing a number.
Number
(Obsolete) Poetic meter.
Numeral
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
Number
Numbers(Archaic) Musical periods or measures.
Numeral
Of or relating to or denoting numbers;
A numeral adjective
Numerical analysis
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games A numbers game.
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible.
Number
One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment
The band's second number was a march.
Number
(Slang) A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance
Suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.
Number
(Slang) A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic
A crafty number.
Number
To assign a number to or mark with a number
Did you number the pages of the report?.
Number
To determine the number or amount of; count
Tickets sold for the show were numbered at 500.
Number
To total in number or amount; add up to
The ships in the harbor number around 100.
Number
To include in a group or category
He was numbered among the lost.
Number
To limit or restrict in number
Our days are numbered.
Number
To call off numbers; count
Numbering to ten.
Number
To have as a total; amount to a number
The applicants numbered in the thousands.
Number
(countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
Number
(countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
Number
An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.
The equation includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, , , and .
Number
(Followed by a numeral; used attributively) Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.
Horse number 5 won the race.
Number
Quantity.
Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
Number
A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.
Her passport number is C01X864TN.
Number
A telephone number.
Number
(grammar) Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.
Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
Number
Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.
Number
(countable) A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.
For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".
Number
A person.
Number
An item of clothing, particularly a stylish one.
Number
A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer.
Number
(dated) An issue of a periodical publication.
The latest number of a magazine
Number
A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance.
Number
A large amount of damage
Number
(transitive) To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
Number
(intransitive) To total or count; to amount to.
I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
Number
That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.
Number
A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.
Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers.
Number
A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.
Number
Numerousness; multitude.
Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage.
Number
The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number.
Number
Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.
Number
That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; - chiefly used in the plural.
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
Number
The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
Number
The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value.
Number
To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Number
To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
He was numbered with the transgressors.
Number
To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
Number
To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand.
Thy tears can not number the dead.
Number
The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals;
He had a number of chores to do
The number of parameters is small
The figure was about a thousand
Number
A concept of quantity derived from zero and units;
Every number has a unique position in the sequence
Number
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did
Number
A numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification;
She refused to give them her Social Security number
Number
The number is used in calling a particular telephone;
He has an unlisted number
Number
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
Number
One of a series published periodically;
She found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom
Number
A select company of people;
I hope to become one of their number before I die
Number
The grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural);
In English the subject and the verb must agree in number
Number
An item of merchandise offered for sale;
She preferred the black nylon number
This sweater is an all-wool number
Number
A clothing measurement;
A number 13 shoe
Number
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
Number
Give numbers to;
You should number the pages of the thesis
Number
Enumerate;
We must number the names of the great mathematicians
Number
Put into a group;
The academy counts several Nobel Prize winners among its members
Number
Determine the number or amount of;
Can you count the books on your shelf?
Count your change
Number
Place a limit on the number of
Number
An abstract concept indicating quantity or order.
The number of apples in the basket is twelve.
Number
A mathematical value irrespective of its representation.
The number represented by X in Roman numerals is ten.
Number
A concept utilized in counting or measuring.
The number of students in the class increased this year.
Number
An entity that exists without physical form.
The number of planets in our solar system is eight.
Common Curiosities
What's the key distinction between a numeral and a number?
A numeral is a tangible representation of a number, while a number is an abstract concept of quantity.
Are numerals only found in mathematics?
No, numerals are also part of languages and are used in various writing systems.
Do all languages use the same numerals to represent numbers?
No, different languages and cultures have developed distinct numeral systems over time.
Are Roman characters like "V" and "X" considered numerals?
Yes, they are examples of Roman numerals representing numbers.
Are numerals always written symbols?
While often written, numerals can also be spoken words representing numbers.
Is the system using "1, 2, 3" considered a numeral system?
Yes, it's called the Arabic numeral system.
Can a number have multiple numerals?
Yes, for instance, the number four can be represented as "4", "IV", or "four".
How is the number 10 represented in Roman numerals?
The number ten is represented by the Roman numeral "X".
Can one numeral represent more than one number?
Typically, no. Each numeral is designed to represent a specific number.
If "5" and "five" both denote the same concept, which one is the numeral?
Both "5" and "five" are numerals representing the number of "fiveness".
What do we mean when we say a number is abstract?
It means a number exists as a concept, independent of its written or spoken representation.
Are numbers and numerals interdependent?
Yes, while they are distinct concepts, numerals express the idea of numbers.
Can the concept of a number change based on its numeral representation?
No, the concept remains constant, but the numeral representation can vary.
Why is it important to differentiate between numeral and number in education?
Understanding the distinction fosters a deeper comprehension of mathematical and linguistic structures.
How are numbers and numerals used differently in sentences?
Numerals specify the representation (e.g., "Write the numeral for five."), while numbers refer to the concept (e.g., "The number of birds was high.").
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
