Meaning & use
cardinal
Of the greatest importance; fundamental or essential to a whole system.
See it in a sentence
Honesty is a cardinal rule in every negotiation her firm conducts.
Breaking the team's trust was considered a cardinal sin among the players.
A note on using this word
Cardinal also names a senior official of the Catholic Church and a bright red North American songbird; check context carefully.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A senior official of the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the pope.
The cardinals gathered in Rome to choose the next pope.
3. noun
A North American songbird known for the male's bright red plumage.
A cardinal landed on the feeder just outside the kitchen window.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cardinal”, then compare your use with the examples above.