Noncardinal
Noncardinal is an adjective formed from non- plus cardinal, used to indicate something that is not cardinal in a given sense. Because cardinality, cardinal directions, and related concepts have different specialized meanings in different fields, noncardinal does not have a single universal definition. In most contexts it serves as a contrast to a specific use of the word cardinal and is understood only within that context.
In mathematics, cardinal numbers measure the size of a set, while ordinal numbers describe order. The term
In geography and navigation, cardinal directions refer to the four main compass points: north, south, east, and
In linguistics and related language studies, cardinal numerals express quantity (one, two, three), whereas noncardinal numerals
Overall, noncardinal is a polyvalent term whose meaning depends on context, and it is often a stylistic