English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun

cardinality

kar-di-NAL-i-tee

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Cardinality (noun) means In set theory, the number of elements contained in a set. Example: “The cardinality of the set {2, 4, 6} is three.”

noun

1

technical In set theory, the number of elements contained in a set.

"The cardinality of the set {2, 4, 6} is three."

"Two sets have the same cardinality if their elements can be paired off one to one."

"An infinite set can still have a well-defined cardinality."

2

technical In database design, the nature of a relationship between two tables, describing whether it is one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many.

"The designer set the cardinality between customers and orders to one-to-many."

"Getting the cardinality wrong in the schema led to duplicate rows."

"A many-to-many cardinality usually needs a join table."

How to use cardinality

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCardinality is just a fancy word for how many things are in a group, or how two lists of things line up with each other.

When to use it

The word belongs to specialist fields such as mathematics and database design, so it rarely appears in everyday speech.

Memory tip

If you already know what a database relationship is, cardinality is simply the label for that relationship's shape.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

cardinal →

Common pairings

set the cardinality cardinality of a set one-to-many cardinality high cardinality cardinality estimation

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “cardinality” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of the set {2, 4, 6} is three.

Etymology

Cardinality comes from the Latin word cardinalitas. It can also be understood as the word cardinal with the suffix -ity added to it, turning the adjective into a noun describing a quantity or property.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

power

Related words

might power office force energy king ability authority

Rhymes for cardinality

city deity acuity parity brevity opacity paucity ability quality reality annuity gravity

See all rhymes for cardinality →

Frequently asked questions

What does cardinality mean in maths?

It is the number of elements a set contains, so a set with five members has a cardinality of five.

What does cardinality mean in databases?

It describes how the rows of one table relate to the rows of another, for example one-to-one or one-to-many.

Can an infinite set have a cardinality?

Yes, mathematicians assign infinite sets a cardinal number too, though comparing different infinities is a more advanced topic.

What is the meaning of cardinality?

"cardinality" (noun) means in set theory, the number of elements contained in a set.

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