Meaning & use
cardinal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Of the greatest importance; fundamental to a system or situation.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a cardinal rule, a cardinal principle. Not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- a cardinal rule
- a cardinal principle
- a cardinal virtue
Honesty is a cardinal rule in our family.
The cardinal principle of the theory is that all people are equal.
Safety is of cardinal importance in this factory.
nouncountable
A senior official of the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the pope.
Grammar: Countable: a cardinal, the cardinals. Often capitalized when used as a title: Cardinal Smith.
Patterns
- appoint a cardinal
- Cardinal Smith
The pope appointed him a cardinal last year.
Cardinal Smith led the ceremony at the cathedral.
nouncountable
A North American songbird, the male of which has bright red feathers and a crest on its head.
Grammar: Countable: a cardinal, cardinals. Often seen in gardens in eastern North America.
Patterns
- a male cardinal
- a cardinal sings
A bright red cardinal sat on the fence.
We heard a cardinal singing in the tree.
Word forms
| plural | cardinals |
|---|
Common combinations
- cardinal rule
- Never share your password—that's a cardinal rule.
- cardinal sin
- In this office, arriving late is considered a cardinal sin.
- cardinal virtue
- In ancient philosophy, courage was one of the cardinal virtues.
- cardinal number
- One, two, and three are cardinal numbers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fundamental
- Very close in meaning, but 'fundamental' is more common in everyday speech and writing.
- essential
- Focuses on something being absolutely necessary, while 'cardinal' stresses it is the most important of all.
- chief
- Means highest in rank or importance, often for people or roles, not for rules or principles.
Opposites
Word family
- cardinality noun
- The number of elements in a set, used in mathematics.
Commonly confused: cardinal or cardinal?
cardinal vs cardinal
As a noun, 'cardinal' can mean a church official or a bird; as an adjective, it means most important. Check the context.
Practice
In the sentence 'It is a cardinal rule never to lie,' what does 'cardinal' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Cardinal' here is an adjective meaning most important or fundamental. The other options are noun meanings or a color association, which do not fit this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cardinal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.