numerology

noun

nu·​mer·​ol·​o·​gy ˌnü-mə-ˈrä-lə-jē How to pronounce numerology (audio)
ˌnyü-
: the study of the occult significance of numbers
numerological adjective
numerologist noun

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As an element of astrology and fortune-telling, numerology has long been employed to predict future events. For many early Christians, 3 represented the Trinity, 6 represented earthly perfection, and 7 represented heavenly perfection; and still today, many of us like to group things into sets of 3 or 7, for no particular reason. Numerology has also been used to interpret personality; in particular, numerologists may assign numbers to each letter of a person's name and use the resulting figures, along with the person's date of birth, as a guide to his or her character.

Examples of numerology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and early Indo-Aryans used numbers to describe the world; however, Greek philosopher Pythagoras took numerology and the notion of life path numbers to a whole new level, thinking numbers connected the universe and humans. Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2024 For instance, someone who believes in numerology might frequently encounter the number 7 in various contexts, such as on clocks, license plates and receipts. Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 In numerology, 444’s twin flame meaning is simply to lean into whatever your current sentiment toward that person is. Lian Brooks, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2024 So what exactly is the meaning behind the Angel number 888 in numerology? Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for numerology 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'numerology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin numerus number entry 1+ -o- + -logy

First Known Use

circa 1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of numerology was circa 1907

Dictionary Entries Near numerology

Cite this Entry

“Numerology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numerology. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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