# quaternary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /kwəˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/ · frequency rank #35,035

## Definitions
1. Of fourth rank or order.
2. Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x⁴.
3. Relating to or in number base four.
4. quaternary ammonium.
5. Composed of four elements.

## Etymology
Derived from Latin quaternārius (“containing or consisting of four”), from quaternī (“four each”, “four at a time”) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.

## Common misspellings (15)
`qauternary`, `qquaternary`, `quaetrnary`, `quatenrary`, `quateranry`, `quaternarry`, `quaternaryy`, `quaternayr`, `quaternnary`, `quaternray`, `quaterrnary`, `quatrenary`, `quatternary`, `qutaernary`, `uqaternary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/quaternary