alphabetical

UK /ˌæl.fəˈbet.ɪ.kəl/ US /ˌæl.fəˈbet̬.ɪ.kəl/ Syllables: al-pha-bet-i-cal

Pronunciation

Adjective A1 Beginner Neutral

Arranged in the order of the letters A to Z.

Alphabetical describes things that are arranged in the order of the letters of the alphabet, from A to Z. A dictionary lists words in alphabetical order, and so does the phone book and the list of names on a class register. If you need to find something fast, alphabetical order helps. The usual phrase is in alphabetical order. The adverb is alphabetically. To sort by the first letter, then the second, you follow the same simple rule.

"The files are kept in alphabetical order by the client's last name."

Example sentences

"Please put the names in alphabetical order."

Level A1
"The dictionary is arranged alphabetically."

Level A2
"She made an alphabetical list of her books."

Level A2
"Is the list alphabetical or by date?"

Level A2

Look-alikes and common mistakes

numerical : Numerical describes order by numbers. Alphabetical describes order by letters.
chronological : Chronological describes order by time. Alphabetical describes order by letters.

Word family and forms

alphabet alphabetically alphabetize

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "alphabetical".

alphabetical order
in alphabetical order
an alphabetical list
alphabetical by name
alphabetically sorted
an alphabetical index

Origin

Alphabetical is made from alphabet plus the ending -ical, and it is first recorded in English in the 1540s. Its source is the word alphabet, which comes from the Greek letter names alpha and beta, the first two letters.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Alphabetical is alphabet plus ical. If it is in alphabetical order, it follows the alphabet: A, B, C.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "Please put the names in _____ order."

Answer: alphabetical

In your own words, what does "alphabetical" mean?