positional

adjective

po·​si·​tion·​al pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or fixed by position

positional astronomy

2

: involving little movement

positional warfare

3

: dependent on position or environment or context

the front-articulated \k\ in \kē\ key and the back-articulated \k\ in \kül\ cool are positional variants

positionally adverb

Examples of positional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first significant tests of San Diego’s positional depth arrived Tuesday in cascading fashion. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025

As positional value continues to be a hot topic around draft time about if certain positions such as running back, tight end or safety should be avoided with such a premium first-round pick, the Cowboys have direct recent history in being a part of that conversation. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025

In two seasons, 20 games with the Owls, Ridley, 6 feet 4 and 230, impressive positional size, completed 60 percent of his passes for 4,420 yards, 31 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions, and picked up a master’s degree. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025

Best picks to win the title No. 7 Saint Mary’s Gaels Strengths: Saint Mary’s features positional size and senior leadership, but what stands out the most is its defense and rebounding. —The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing positional

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• benign positional vertigo
• positional notation

Rhymes for positional

• additional
• conditional
• nutritional
• traditional
• transitional
• volitional
• compositional
• definitional
• depositional
• dispositional
• intuitional
• nontraditional