An ordinal is a human-made data type in measurement theory and statistics that classifies items into ordered categories where the rank order is meaningful but the intervals between ranks are not necessarily equal. Parameters: (1) number of ordered categories (k ≥ 2), (2) ordering relation (strict weak ordering), (3) absence of metric interval structure between adjacent ranks. Persists through mathematical definition in measurement theory, statistical software type systems, and research methodology standards. [formal: ordinatum | substrate: mind | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.10]
Accepted ontology entry
ordinal
An ordinal is a human-made data type in measurement theory and statistics that classifies items into ordered categories where the rank order is meaningful but the intervals between ranks are not necessarily equal. Parameters: (1) number of…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made data type in measurement theory and statistics, built to persist as a classification scheme that ranks items in order while preserving the relative distance between ranks.
Names and aliases
- ordinalen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrxj3acr03cmsoacx73fal1oSERVES →
Ordinal measurement scales are built and maintained for the sake of statistical analysis and methodology. The servant (ordinal data type) points at the master (statistics as a field).
- cmrmi0v8g00bwd1nlrx23qz6gINSTANCE_OF →
ordinal (as a measurement scale ranking items in order) is a specific kind of classification. Nearest available kind is classification (0.11 vs 0.10 epochs; INSTANCE_OF tests kind-not-chronology).
- cmr784qst000rs126mn0nwqkgINSTANCE_OF →
Ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) are a specific kind of number that indicates position or rank rather than quantity (cardinal numbers). A competent speaker calls an ordinal 'a type of number' — specifically, the positional variant of the number concept. Nearest kind: number.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 31, 2026, 3:13 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 150db760a4e341155fee6d87e8c2f75c80cbd7a5b3687023c8b8266708e51e31