mathematical

[ math-uh-mat-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of mathematics:

   mathematical truth.

2. employed in the operations of mathematics:

   mathematical instruments.

3. having the exactness, precision, or certainty of mathematics.

   Synonyms: rigorous, meticulous, precise, exact

mathematical

/ ˌmæθˈmæt-; ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, used in, or relating to mathematics
2. characterized by or using the precision of mathematics; exact
3. using, determined by, or in accordance with the principles of mathematics

Derived Forms

• ˌmatheˈmatically, adverb

Other Words From

• mathe·mati·cal·ly adverb
• nonmath·e·matic adjective
• nonmath·e·mati·cal adjective
• nonmath·e·mati·cal·ly adverb
• semi·mathe·mati·cal adjective
• semi·mathe·mati·cal·ly adverb
• super·mathe·mati·cal adjective
• super·mathe·mati·cal·ly adverb
• unmath·e·mati·cal adjective
• unmath·e·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mathematical¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin mathēmatic ( us ) pertaining to mathematics + -al ¹

Example Sentences

It’s a mathematical problem layered with a huge element of uncertainty around what will be the right thing to do in terms of safety and health.

From Digiday

They’ve been capitalizing on a recent mathematical advance that has injected new life into a millennia-long quest to identify shapes that can perfectly fill, or tile, three-dimensional space.

From Quanta Magazine

“These are idealized mathematical objects that are going to be with us forever, and now we know all of them,” said Martin Weissman of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

From Quanta Magazine

The mathematical disease modeler Joseph Wu, a member of the University of Hong Kong’s infectious disease and public health teams, was looking closely at the numbers of cases being reported in and around Wuhan.

From Quanta Magazine

The third, however, can be viewed through a mathematical lens.

From Quanta Magazine

It takes Sharp four hours to get into character: “I take joy in the mathematical, symmetrical precision and perfectness of Bach.”

From The Daily Beast

He majored in mathematical physics, studying mind-bending theories of quantum mechanics and partial differential equations.

From The Daily Beast

To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational.

From The Daily Beast

Kempton subsequently offered what he reasoned to be mathematical proof of her powers.

From The Daily Beast

All Facebook will see is cyphertext—the mathematical gibberish computers generate to thwart spying eyes.

From The Daily Beast

A second main division of our schooling was mathematical instruction of a sort.

From Project Gutenberg

This truth is as old as Homer, and its proofs are as capable of demonstration as a mathematical axiom.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon reflection, it is surprising how few subjects are capable of a mathematical demonstration.

From Project Gutenberg

There is not a mathematical line—length without breadth—in all the universe.

From Project Gutenberg

With mathematical accuracy the old man filled the two tumblers with boiling water.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• analytical
• numerical
• scientific