Numeral

A numeral is a member of a word class whose members are used to express numbers in one way or another (for counting objects, counting events, or expressing the position in a sequence).

Comments
Numerals should not be confused with number words, i.e. words expressing number in the sense of singular/plural and similar distinctions. Numerals are word that express precise numbers such as 'one', 'two', 'three', 'seventy-seven', rather than approximate quantity.

Subtypes

 * cardinal numeral
 * ordinal numeral
 * multiplicative numeral
 * distributive numeral

Synonym

 * number-word
 * number (sometimes used loosely for 'numeral')

Origin
From Latin numeralis 'having to do with number (numerus)'. Attested in English since the 16th century.

Other languages
German Zahlwort