seven

Seven is the natural number that comes after six and before eight. It is written with the numeral 7 and is a prime number, meaning it has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. In Roman numerals it is VII, and in binary it is 111. The number often appears in various mathematical patterns and counting systems.

Culturally, seven has broad symbolic significance. Many cultures divide time into weeks of seven days, and the idea of seven continents or seven seas appears in different historical and geographical contexts. The number is commonly associated with luck, completeness, or sacredness in religious and folkloric traditions. Prominent motifs include the seven colors of the rainbow in some traditions, the seven wonders of the ancient world, and sets such as the seven deadly sins and, in some traditions, the seven virtues or seven heavenly realms.

In science, seven has specific factual associations: the element with atomic number seven is nitrogen, a major component of Earth's atmosphere and vital to biological molecules.

In popular culture, seven is frequently used in titles and branding. The most well-known media reference is the 1995 film Se7en, a crime thriller directed by David Fincher, in which a killer structures crimes around the seven deadly sins. The term Seven also appears in various literary, musical, and entertainment contexts, reflecting its enduring place in language and symbolism.