rational number

noun

"rational-number" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rational number” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
15
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers.

Key facts for rational number
PropertyValue
Headwordrational number
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters15
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rational number” sits in English frequency

rational number falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for rational number is 15 letters long, classified as a noun. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "A number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers.".

rational number has no tracked misspelling variants, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From rational + number, ultimately from Latin rationalis + numerus. Compare analogous logarithm, from Ancient Greek. The correct English form is rational number, spelled R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L- -N-U-M-B-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers.

Etymology

From rational + number, ultimately from Latin rationalis + numerus. Compare analogous logarithm, from Ancient Greek.

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "rational number"?
"rational number" is spelled R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L- -N-U-M-B-E-R.
What does "rational number" mean?
As a noun, "rational number" means: A number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers.
What is the origin of the word "rational number"?
From rational + number, ultimately from Latin rationalis + numerus. Compare analogous logarithm, from Ancient Greek. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “rational number”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L- -N-U-M-B-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list