Definition:Transfinite Ordinal/Also known as

Transfinite Ordinal: Also known as

A transfinite ordinal is also known as an infinite ordinal.

The term transfinite number can also sometimes be seen.

The very word transfinite is a holdover from the tentative steps made by Georg Cantor, seeking a language to communicate in which would minimise the challenge of the preconceived notion of the word infinite.

The word infinite number is used sporadically in $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$, which often loosely means a number (of whatever type) which is not finite, and used in a context where the meaning is apparent.

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Cantor's theory of sets
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): transfinite number or set
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Cantor's theory of sets
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): transfinite number or set