zeroth

American  

[zeer-ohth] / ˈzɪər oʊθ /

adjective

1. coming in a series before the first.

   the zeroth level of energy.

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zeroth British  

/ ˈzɪərəʊð /

adjective

1. denoting a term in a series that precedes the term otherwise regarded as the first term

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Etymology

Origin of zeroth

First recorded in 1895–1900; zero + -th ¹

Example Sentences

Plus the zeroth law: "A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2021

“To zeroth order, our ideas of how these things formed seem to be vindicated,” he says.

From Scientific American • Jan. 8, 2019

They also got a serious obesity epidemics, too much good cheap food and zeroth physical activity.

From New York Times • Oct. 18, 2016

It is called the zeroth law of thermodynamics.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

See also zeroth and off-by-one error, and note that not all off-by-one errors are fencepost errors.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.