suffix

nd

as in "second"

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Nd (suffix) means the two letters added to a numeral ending in 2 to write its ordinal form: 2nd, 22nd, 102nd. Numbers ending in 12 are the exception and take -th instead: 12th, 112th, 212th. Example: “The meeting is on the 22nd of March.”

suffix

The two letters added to a numeral ending in 2 to write its ordinal form: 2nd, 22nd, 102nd. Numbers ending in 12 are the exception and take -th instead: 12th, 112th, 212th.

"The meeting is on the 22nd of March."

"She finished 2nd out of forty runners."

abbreviation

academic No date; used in citations and reference lists when a source gives no year of publication.

"The webpage had no publication year, so the reference reads (Smith, n.d.)."

North Dakota, in the two-letter postal code system used for US states.

"Fargo, ND 58102"

How to use nd

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe bit you stick on the number 2 to make it "second".

When to use it

The ordinal use is universal in all registers. The "no date" use is written n.d. with full stops and belongs to academic referencing.

Memory tip

Numbers ending in 2 take -nd, ending in 1 take -st, ending in 3 take -rd, and everything else takes -th — except 11, 12 and 13, which all take -th.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

st → rd th

Common pairings

2nd place the 22nd of the month (Author, n.d.)

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like nd.

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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 “nd” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Fargo, _____ 58102

Etymology

The last two letters of the word second, written after the numeral.

Origin: English

Frequently asked questions

Why is it 2nd but 12th?

The suffix copies the last two letters of how the number is spoken. Two is "second", so it takes -nd, but twelve is "twelfth", so it takes -th. The test is the last two digits, not the last one — so 22nd and 102nd, but 12th, 112th and 212th.

What does n.d. mean in a citation?

It stands for "no date" and is used when a source shows no year of publication, as often happens with web pages. It goes where the year would normally sit, for example (Jones, n.d.).

Should ordinal suffixes be superscript?

Both 2nd and 2ⁿᵈ are accepted, but most modern style guides, including AP and Chicago, prefer the plain form on the line. Word processors often superscript it automatically, which you can switch off.

What is the meaning of nd?

"nd" (suffix) means the two letters added to a numeral ending in 2 to write its ordinal form: 2nd, 22nd, 102nd. Numbers ending in 12 are the exception and take -th instead: 12th, 112th, 212th.