numeric

numeric — adjective

1. relating to numbers or shown in the form of numbers; using numbers as a way to d

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to numbers or shown in the form of numbers; using numbers as a way to describe, measure, or identify something.

Example

The students' test scores were listed in numeric order from highest to lowest.

collocation: numeric order

Ada entered her six-digit numeric password to unlock the office door.

collocation: numeric password / numeric code

Common collocations
  • numeric order
  • numeric value
  • numeric data
  • numeric format
  • numeric code
  • numeric scale
  • numeric rating
  • numeric keypad
  • numeric password
Synonyms
  • numerical

    virtually identical in meaning; 'numerical' is more common in formal or technical writing

  • digital

    refers specifically to data represented as digits (0 and 1); narrower than 'numeric'

  • mathematical

    broader — relates to the whole field of mathematics, not just numbers

Antonyms
  • verbal

    expressed in words rather than numbers

  • alphabetical

    ordered by letters rather than numbers

Grammar Patterns

numeric + noun

be + numeric

Usage Note

Frequently used as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'value', 'data', 'code', 'format', 'order', or 'scale'. The synonym 'numerical' is interchangeable in most contexts but 'numerical' is slightly more common in formal academic writing.

Common Mistakes

I need to numeric the results.
I need to put the results in numeric order.
'numeric' is an adjective and cannot be used as a verb.

numeric — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Numeric' and 'numerical' are largely interchangeable — both mean 'relating to numbers.' However, 'numerical' is more common in formal academic and scientific writing (e.g., 'numerical analysis,' 'numerical simulation'), while 'numeric' is preferred in computing and everyday contexts (e.g., 'numeric keypad,' 'numeric password'). 'Digital' is narrower: it refers specifically to data stored or transmitted as digits (0 and 1), so while a digital clock shows numeric time, not everything numeric is digital. For example, a hand-written score is numeric but not digital. British English tends toward 'numerical' slightly more than American English. Choose 'numeric' for practical, technology-adjacent uses and 'numerical' for theoretical or analytical contexts.

numeric ↗numerical ↗digital ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the Latin word 'numerus' meaning 'a number,' combined with the English suffix '-ic' (from Latin '-icus'), which turns a noun into an adjective meaning 'relating to.' The word entered English in the early 1600s, influenced by the French 'numérique.' The noun sense followed later, used mainly in specialized fields such as computing.