What does ordinate mean?
An ordinate is the y-coordinate of a point in a Cartesian coordinate system. If a point is represented as (x, y), its ordinate is y, while its abscissa is x. The term is used mainly in analytical geometry, where it distinguishes the vertical coordinate from the horizontal one, although many speakers simply say y-coordinate instead. In older and literary English, ordinate can also be an adjective meaning orderly, regular, or carefully arranged, but this use is now uncommon. The word comes through Latin from the same root as order, ordinary, and ordain. Its specialized mathematical meaning makes it useful when precision matters, especially in the study of coordinates, graphs, and the history of mathematical terminology.
The y-coordinate of a point in a Cartesian coordinate system, measured along the y-axis.
"A point with an ordinate of 4 lies four units above the x-axis."
The term is chiefly used in mathematical and scientific contexts; y-coordinate is the ordinary modern alternative.
Relating to or designating an ordinate; in older usage, orderly or properly arranged.
"The diagram labels the ordinate axis to show the vertical direction."
The mathematical adjective is standard in technical writing, while the sense meaning orderly is archaic or literary.
The plural is used when referring to the y-coordinates of multiple points.
"The ordinates of the plotted points determine the shape of the curve."
Every point has two coordinates: the ordinate tells you how high it sits on the y-axis, while the abscissa tells you how far across it lies on the x-axis.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ordinate come from?
The word comes from Latin ordinatus, the past participle of ordinare, meaning to arrange or put in order. English borrowed the adjective in the sense of orderly or regularly arranged before adopting the mathematical noun for the ordinate or y-coordinate of a point. The same Latin root underlies order, orderly, ordinary, and ordain.
Related word forms
How ordinate is actually used
In modern mathematical usage, ordinate is primarily a technical term for the y-coordinate. The adjective meaning orderly is uncommon and mainly literary or archaic. The word is distinct from coordinate, which can refer to either coordinate of a point or to an ordered pair.
Easily confused with ordinate
An ordinate specifically means a y-coordinate, whereas a coordinate may refer to either the x-coordinate or y-coordinate, or to an ordered pair of coordinates.