Positional Meaning
/pəˈzɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjRelating to the position of something.
adjHaving or pertaining to a value that is a function of its social desirability, as opposed to its utility.
Sentence Examples
The positional value of the digit depends on its place.
They practiced their positional strategies on the field.
The chess master secured a strong positional advantage early.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The coach taught the team about important ____ strategy for defensive plays.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The coach made a ____ change at halftime, moving the striker back to a midfield role.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English position Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English positional From position + -al.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The mattress platform on Davey’s bed fell unexpectedly, “trapping her neck against the upper surface of the side panel of the bed’s base,” Chipperfield explained. “Unable to free herself, she died of positional asphyxia. One of the two gas-lift pistons was defective.”"
— 2024 October 14, Issy Ronald, “Woman killed by malfunctioning ottoman bed”, in CNN:
"Of course, this ex post problem may have a negative feedback on the ex ante desirability of having market transactions for positional goods."
— 1998, Samuel Bowles, Maurizio Franzini, Ugo Pagano, The Politics and Economics of Power, page 61:
"Since economics is about scarcity, its study must be based on positional conflict, as indicated by the behaviour of the nouveau riche, or of poor people, who proudly demonstrate their latest smartphones or plasma TV sets."
— 2013, Anastasios S. Korkotsides, Against Utility-Based Economics: On a Life-Based Approach, page 235:
"Regarding saving and consumption, nonpositional and positional consumption are distinguished."
— 2014, Shenggen Fan, Ravi Kanbur, Shang-Jin Wei, The Oxford Companion to the Economics of China:
"Max Weber was also aware of positional considerations when he defined social status as "an effective claim to social esteem in terms of positive or negative privileges" (Weber, 1922: 305)."
— 2016, Stavros A. Drakopoulos, Comparisons in Economic Thought, page 69:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The coach taught the team about important ____ strategy for defensive plays.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The coach made a ____ change at halftime, moving the striker back to a midfield role.