Decimal can referto point to or describe a particular thing or meaning to a number written in the base-10 system, or to something related to tens and powers of ten. In math, it can also mean a fraction written with a denominatorthe bottom part of a fraction, showing how many equal parts make a whole that is a powera repeated multiplication exponent, such as 10 times itself several times of 10.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdɛsəməl/
Easy pronunciation: DESS-uh-muhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Noun: a number in the decimal system.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Decimal Meaning
a number written using place value and digits based on ten
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a number in the decimal system
Example: The number 3.75 is a decimal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Decimal
Meaning 2
a fraction written in tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a proper fraction whose denominator is a power of 10
Example: 0.25 is a decimal fraction.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- decimal fraction — Exact synonym for this math sense.
Meaning 3
organized around the number ten
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: numbered or proceeding by tens; based on ten
Example: The decimal system is used in everyday counting.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- denary — Correct but relatively formal; fits the adjective sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Decimal Synonyms
noun: a proper fraction whose denominator is a power of 10
- decimal fraction
adjective: numbered or proceeding by tens; based on ten
- denary
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse the noun decimal with the adjective decimal.
- Do not use decimal as a general synonym for any fraction; it specifically refers to base-10 fractions or numbers in the decimal system.
- Decimal point is related but is not the same as decimal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does decimal mean?
Decimal can mean a number written in base 10, a fraction with a denominator that is a power of 10, or an adjective meaning based on ten.
What is a decimal synonym?
For the noun meaning, decimal fraction is a close synonym in math. For the adjective meaning, denary is the closest match.
Is decimal the same as a fraction?
Not exactly. A decimal is a number or fraction written in a base-10 form, but not every fraction is a decimal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.