cardinal

cardinal — noun

IPA/ˈkɑːdɪnl/
KK[kˈɑrdənəl]IPA/ˈkɑːrdɪnl/
  • cardinalsingular
  • cardinalsplural

1. a senior church leader in Catholicism, appointed by the Pope, who belongs to a g

1.nounB2
Definition

a senior church leader in Catholicism, appointed by the Pope, who belongs to a group that advises him and chooses a new leader when the position becomes vacant.

Example

The cardinal delivered a speech at the Vatican about helping poor communities.

countable noun with definite article

A group of cardinals met in secret to discuss the future of the Church.

plural form: cardinals

Common collocations
  • College of Cardinals
  • appoint a cardinal
  • Cardinal + surname
  • elect a cardinal
Synonyms
  • archbishop

    a high-ranking bishop who oversees an archdiocese, but not as high as a cardinal

  • bishop

    a lower rank than cardinal; oversees a diocese

  • prelate

    a general term for a high-ranking church official, broader than cardinal

Grammar Patterns

the + cardinal

a + cardinal + of + the Church

Usage Note

When used as a title before a name, capitalise the C: Cardinal Okafor, Cardinal Chen. The Pope appoints cardinals, who together form the College of Cardinals.

Common Mistakes

The cardinal is a type of bishop in the Catholic church.
A cardinal is a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church.
'Cardinal' is a specific rank above archbishop, not simply a type of bishop.

2. a counting number like 1, 2, or 3 that indicates quantity, rather than an ordina

2.nounB1
Definition

a counting number like 1, 2, or 3 that indicates quantity, rather than an ordinal number (1st, 2nd, 3rd) that shows a position in a sequence.

Example

The teacher asked the children to write the cardinal numbers from one to twenty.

cardinal + number collocation

Five is a cardinal number, but fifth is an ordinal number.

contrasting cardinal vs. ordinal

Common collocations
  • cardinal number
  • cardinal numeral
  • cardinal and ordinal
Synonyms
  • counting number

    more informal way to say the same thing; used especially in primary education

  • natural number

    a mathematical term for positive whole numbers; broader than cardinal number

Antonyms
  • ordinal number

    a number showing position in a sequence (1st, 2nd, 3rd), the direct opposite of cardinal number

Grammar Patterns

cardinal number + noun

the cardinal numbers

Usage Note

Cardinal numbers are the everyday counting numbers (one, two, three...) that answer 'how many?'. Ordinal numbers (first, second, third...) answer 'which position?'. In grammar, the term 'cardinal number' is used in both Maths and English language teaching.

Common Mistakes

Write your age as an ordinal number.
Write your age as a cardinal number.
Age is about quantity (how many years), not position.

3. a medium-sized North American bird with a pointed crest on its head and a stubby

3.nounB1
Definition

a medium-sized North American bird with a pointed crest on its head and a stubby beak; the male's plumage is a vivid red, while the female is mostly brown with some reddish tones.

Example

A bright red cardinal landed on the feeder outside Hana's kitchen window.

countable noun with colour description

Cardinals do not migrate in winter, so their red feathers stand out against the snow.

Common collocations
  • male cardinal
  • female cardinal
  • cardinal feathers
  • cardinal sings
  • cardinal feeder
Synonyms
  • redbird

    an informal alternative name for the same bird, common in everyday US speech

Grammar Patterns

a + cardinal

the + cardinal + has/feeds on

Usage Note

The name 'cardinal' is also used for a vivid red colour, named after the bird's feathers. Some US states (Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and others) have the cardinal as their official state bird. This sense is primarily used in North America.

cardinal — adjective

IPA/ˈkɑː.dɪ.nəl/
KK[kˈɑrdənəl]IPA/ˈkɑːr.dɪ.nəl/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something of great importance, but they differ in emphasis and usage. 'Cardinal' is the most formal and restricted — it nearly always appears before the noun in a set of fixed phrases (cardinal rule, cardinal sin, cardinal principle) and carries a sense of foundational gravity. 'Fundamental' focuses on forming the base or foundation of a system: 'a fundamental principle of democracy' implies everything else rests on it. 'Essential' stresses necessity — without it, something cannot function or succeed: 'essential safety equipment'. 'Vital' is more urgent and suggests life-or-death importance: 'vital information'. In everyday speech, 'essential' and 'fundamental' are far more common than 'cardinal'. A useful test: if you can naturally replace the word with 'basic' or 'foundational', choose 'fundamental'; if the context suggests 'extremely important but in a fixed expression', choose 'cardinal'.

cardinal ↗fundamental ↗essential ↗vital ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • cardinal rule of
  • cardinal sin in
  • cardinal principle of

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'cardinal' comes from the Latin 'cardo', meaning 'hinge' or 'pivot'. In ancient Rome, a 'cardo' was the main street of a city (the north-south axis) from which all other streets branched. Something 'cardinal' was therefore 'on which something hinges' or 'of central importance'. The religious title developed because cardinals were the 'hinges' of the Church, supporting the Pope. The bird was named by early European settlers in North America who noticed its red colour matched the robes worn by Catholic cardinals.