arithmetic
gb/ˌɛɹɪθmˈɛtɪk/ us/ˌɛɹɪθmˈɛtɪk/
B2
English
~ 9500
számtan, aritmetika, számolás, számítás, számtani, aritmetikai, matek
NOUN
B2
1
számtan
B1
aritmetika
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is good at [arithmetic]
Children usually start learning basic arithmetic in primary school.
A gyerekek általában az általános iskolában kezdenek el számtant tanulni.
Her job as a cashier requires solid arithmetic skills.
Pénztárosként végzett munkájához biztos számolási készségre van szükség.
I was always better at arithmetic than at geometry.
The test focused on mental arithmetic instead of algebra or calculus.
Learner examples
We learn arithmetic in math class.
Matematikán számtant tanulunk.
He is very good at arithmetic.
Nagyon jó a számtanban.
Basic arithmetic helps you use money every day.
The teacher gives us simple arithmetic problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "arithmetic" when they just mean "math" in general. In modern English, "math" (or "maths" in British English) is the usual word, and "arithmetic" is more specific, meaning the basic number operations. Learners also sometimes say *"an arithmetic"* when talking about the subject, but it is normally uncountable: you say "I study arithmetic", not "I study an arithmetic".
Meaning
basic branch of mathematics
Collocations
basic arithmetic
|mental arithmetic
|arithmetic skills
|arithmetic operations
|teach arithmetic
Synonyms
basic math (More informal and common in everyday speech, especially in American English.)
Antonyms
literature (A contrasting school subject focused on written texts rather than numbers; not a strict logical opposite but often paired as a contrast in education.)
Themes
education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A kind of math that uses numbers for adding, taking away, multiplying, and dividing.
The part of mathematics that deals with basic operations on numbers, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] does the arithmetic (on [something])
If you do the arithmetic, you'll see we can't afford this trip.
Ha kiszámolod, látni fogod, hogy nem engedhetjük meg magunknak ezt az utat.
The accountant did the arithmetic and discovered a small error.
A könyvelő elvégezte a számítást, és felfedezett egy kisebb hibát.
Once you include taxes and fees, the arithmetic looks much worse.
He did some quick arithmetic on his phone before making the offer.
Learner examples
Please do the arithmetic and check this bill.
Kérlek, végezd el a számolást, és ellenőrizd ezt a számlát.
When I do the arithmetic, I see that my money is not enough.
Ha kiszámolom, látom, hogy nincs elég pénzem.
She did the arithmetic and found a mistake in the price.
You only need easy arithmetic to fill in this form.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"make the arithmetic"* or *"do an arithmetic"*. In this sense, English normally uses the fixed phrase "do the arithmetic" without an article, or just "do the arithmetic on [something]".
Meaning
process of doing calculations
Collocations
do the arithmetic
|simple arithmetic
|the arithmetic shows
|the arithmetic works
|back-of-the-envelope arithmetic
Synonyms
calculation (Very close in meaning; slightly broader, as it can include more advanced math, not only basic operations.)
Antonyms
guesswork (Opposite in that it means deciding without doing any careful numerical calculation.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The action of working with numbers to find an answer.
The act or process of calculating with numbers in order to reach a numerical result.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
számtani
B2
aritmetikai
C1
Usage pattern:
[arithmetic] [noun]
The bug was caused by an arithmetic error in the program.
A problémát a programban lévő számtani hiba okozta.
Addition and subtraction are basic arithmetic operations.
Az összeadás és a kivonás alapvető számtani műveletek.
We used the arithmetic mean to summarize the data.
In an arithmetic progression, each term increases by the same amount.
Learner examples
There is an arithmetic error in this report.
Ebben a jelentésben számtani hiba van.
We studied different arithmetic operations in class.
Az órán különböző számtani műveleteket tanultunk.
The computer made an arithmetic mistake and gave the wrong answer.
This formula gives the arithmetic mean of the numbers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "arithmetical" instead of "arithmetic" as an adjective. "Arithmetical" is correct but less common in modern usage; in most contexts, especially in computing and statistics, "arithmetic" is preferred (e.g. "arithmetic error", not usually "arithmetical error").
Meaning
relating to basic calculations
Collocations
arithmetic error
|arithmetic operation
|arithmetic mean
|arithmetic progression
|arithmetic expression
Synonyms
numerical (Broader; can refer to any use of numbers, not only the four basic operations.)
Antonyms
non-numeric (Describes things that do not involve numbers or numerical values.)
Themes
science
|technology
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Connected to basic number work like adding, taking away, multiplying, or dividing.
Relating to or involving basic numerical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
the arithmetic of [a situation]
The political arithmetic makes a majority government very unlikely.
A politikai számtan alapján nagyon kicsi az esélye a többségi kormánynak.
When you include staff costs, the economic arithmetic no longer works.
Ha a személyi költségeket is beleszámítjuk, a gazdasági számtan már nem jön ki.
The electoral arithmetic strongly favors smaller parties in this system.
However attractive the proposal sounds, the budgetary arithmetic just does not add up.
Learner examples
The political arithmetic is against the new law.
A politikai számtan az új törvény ellen szól.
The economic arithmetic shows that the company must cut costs.
A gazdasági számtan azt mutatja, hogy a cégnek költségeket kell csökkentenie.
He likes the plan, but the budgetary arithmetic is a problem.
When we look at the numbers, the arithmetic does not work.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is a more figurative, formal use. It does not mean school math; it means the real numbers that control what is possible, especially in money or politics.
Meaning
underlying numbers of a situation
Collocations
the political arithmetic
|the economic arithmetic
|the electoral arithmetic
|the budgetary arithmetic
Synonyms
numbers (Informal plural used to mean the key figures in a situation, especially money or votes.)
Antonyms
wishful thinking (Contrasts with hard numerical reality; means hoping for a result without support from the actual numbers.)
Themes
business
|politics
|finance
Definition
The numbers in a situation that show if something can really happen, for example in money or politics.
The set of numerical facts, especially financial or voting figures, that determine whether a particular plan or outcome is possible.
Grammar
Dictionary form
arithmetic
IPA
GB/ˌɛɹɪθmˈɛtɪk/
US/ˌɛɹɪθmˈɛtɪk/
Syllables & stress
arith - met - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: arithmetic
Noun
- Base: arithmetic
- Plural: arithmetic, arithmetics
Word family
Forms
arithmetics
noun
Core family
arithmetical
adjective
Related words
arithmetically
adverb
Expressions
do the arithmetic
1/dˈu ðə ɚˈɪθmətˌɪk/
fixed phrase
calculate to see the facts
To calculate the numbers so that you can understand the real situation.
Examples
- If you do the arithmetic, you'll see that we are losing money.
- Journalists have already done the arithmetic and know which party will win.
- Before you sign the contract, do the arithmetic and check what it really costs.
simple arithmetic
1/sˈɪmpəl ˌɛɹɪθmˈɛtɪk/
fixed phrase
easy basic calculation
Very easy number work that only needs basic adding, taking away, multiplying, or dividing.
Examples
- It's just simple arithmetic; anyone can check the total.
- By simple arithmetic, we know the project will take at least six months.
the political arithmetic
1/ðə pəlˈɪtɪkəl ɚˈɪθmətˌɪk/
fixed phrase
formal
vote numbers in politics
The number of votes or seats that shows which political group can win or control the government.
Examples
- The political arithmetic suggests that a coalition will be necessary.
- Because of the political arithmetic in parliament, the reform is likely to fail.