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Definition of alphabetical

alphabetical

/ˌæl.fəˈbɛt.ɪ.kəl/
al · pha · bet · i · cal
Adverb:alphabetically
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alphabetical Lexical Profile

alphabetical Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Arranged in the customary sequence of the letters of the alphabet.

Example

"The librarian organized the reference books in alphabetical order by the authors' last names."

2

Relating to, expressed by, or using an alphabet.

Example

"The software requires an alphabetical password rather than a purely numeric pin."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for alphabetical
Antonyms
View all antonyms for alphabetical

Word Nuance & Usage

'Alphabetical' typically refers to the sequential order of letters (e.g., alphabetical order), whereas 'alphabetic' more commonly describes a writing system that uses letters to represent speech sounds (e.g., an alphabetic script).

• Rhymes for alphabetical

• Nearby Words

alpha testing
alphabet
alphabetic
alphabetical
alphabetically
alphabetization
alphabetize

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 16th century from 'alphabet' plus the adjectival suffix '-ical', ultimately tracing back via Late Latin 'alphabetum' to the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, 'alpha' and 'beta'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alphabetical. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alphabetical
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