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What’s the Plural of Vertex?

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What’s the plural of “vertex”?

Vertex is singular. The plural of vertex is vertexes or vertices.

👍🏼Usage Note

The vertex of the angle is at the origin.

A square has four vertices.

The triangle has three vertex.

We marked the main vertices on the top of the mountain.

Is vertex singular or plural?

Vertex is singular. The plural of vertex is vertexes or vertices.

What’s a vertex? What’s the dictionary definition of vertex?  

The word and noun vertex is defined as either  “the top of the head”, or “the point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure.”

Nouns that end in -ex and -xes/-ces

Irregular nouns that end in -ex often convert to –ces/-xes as a plural. This is a characteristic of Latin words.

singular plural
index indexes and indices
matrix matrices and matrixes
appendix appendices or appendexes
codex codices or codexes
vortex vortices or vortexes
vertex vertices or vertexes
apex apices or apexes
💡Study Tip

Vertex becomes vertices (or vertexes) in the plural, following the common -ex to -ices pattern seen in Latin-derived words.

Examples of “vertex” used in context

Word Form Examples
Other Initially, every vertex has the same probability of being open to the flow of water.

The vertex of the hill.

My cousin built his house on the vertex of the highest hill in the county.

Last week, one of the students located the vertex of a parabola in a particularly elegant way.

For each bit of information, we draw a vertex (or node), called a digit node.

Examples of “vertexes”/”vertices” in sentences

Word Form Examples
Other Using the ruler draw lines connecting the adjacent vertices of the hexagon.

This solid has 4 faces, 4 vertices and 6 edges.

It consequently has four vertices and six edges.

It has 12 pentagonal faces, and 30 edges, which intersect in fives to form 12 vertices.

Two polyhedra are reciprocal when the faces and vertices of one correspond to the vertices and faces of the other.

Synonyms of vertex

  • pinnacle
  • top
  • crest
  • zenith
  • summit
  • height
  • tip
  • apex
  • Peak

Origin of the word vertex

From etymonline on vertex:

1560s, “the point opposite the base in geometry,” from Latin vertex “highest point,” literally “the turning point”.

What’re personal pronouns?

What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?

Whose vs who’s?

Sources  

  1. Definition of vertex.
  2. Synonyms for vertex.
  3. Origin of the word vertex.

Worksheet

Question 1 of 10

According to the post, what is one acceptable plural form of “vertex”?



Is the word “vertex” singular or plural?



Which of the following sentences uses the correct form of “vertex” or its plural, based on the examples in the post?



Which plural form of “vertex” is also mentioned as correct in the post?



Words ending in -ex that come from Latin often form their plurals by changing to which endings?



The polygon had three , forming a triangle.



The angle’s is located at the origin point.



A cube has eight and twelve edges.



We needed to calculate the midpoint between two of the shape.



The diagram showed a single where the two lines met.





FAQs

What’s the plural of vertex?
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The plural of “vertex” is either “vertexes” or “vertices.” “Vertex” itself is the singular form. A square has four vertices, while a triangle has three vertices.

When do I use vertex vs. vertices?
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Use “vertex” for the singular form, as in “The vertex of the angle is at the origin.” Use “vertices” or “vertexes” for the plural, as in “A square has four vertices.”

Are vertexes and vertices both correct?
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Yes, according to the post, both “vertexes” and “vertices” are considered correct plural forms for the word “vertex.” You can say a solid has 4 faces and 4 vertices.

Why are there two plurals for vertex?
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Words ending in -ex, often from Latin, commonly form plurals in both -xes and -ces/-ices. Vertex follows this pattern, becoming vertexes or vertices.

Give an example of vertex used plurally.
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The post provides several examples using the plural. For instance, “This solid has 4 faces, 4 vertices and 6 edges,” or “connecting the adjacent vertices of the hexagon.”

Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Vertex?." Grammarflex, Jun 25, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-vertex/.

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