DictionaryAI

alphabetical

Sayal-fuh-BET-i-kuhl/ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkəl/UK/ˌæl.fəˈbɛt.ɪ.kəl/AUS/ˌæl.fəˈbet.ɪ.kəl/

4 meanings of alphabetical

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    In the same order as the letters of the alphabet, from A to Z.

    The books on this shelf are in alphabetical order.

    Our teacher keeps an alphabetical list of everyone in the class.

    Similaralphabetic

  2. 2
    adjective
    Having to do with letters of an alphabet, having them, or written with them.

    Some codes are alphabetical, and others use only numbers.

    Each key on the old phone had an alphabetical label as well as a number.

    Similaralphabetic

    Note
  3. 3
    nounabbreviationellipsis
    Short for alphabetical jigsaw. A crossword whose clues are listed from A to Z by their answers.

    This week's alphabetical was so hard that I needed a dictionary.

    My aunt finishes the Saturday alphabetical before breakfast.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    adjectiveobsolete
    Keeping exactly to the words that are written, word for word.
    But if an alphabeticall servility must be still urged, it may so fall out,
    1644, John Milton, The Doctrine & Discipline of DivorceHere, alphabeticall means keeping strictly to the exact words, letter by letter.
    Note

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Origin

From the Latin word alphabēticus, with the ending -al added.