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Neither A Subset Of Nor Equal To Symbol

⊈ means “not a subset of” and “not equal to” at the same time.

U+2288

The symbol ⊈ is a logic/mathematics notation that combines two ideas: subset-hood and equality. It’s commonly used in set statements to rule out both “subset” and “equal” cases.

Neither A Subset Of Nor Equal To Symbol Meaning

⊈ stands for “neither a subset of nor equal to.” In set notation, A ⊈ B means you can’t treat A as being contained within B, and it also emphasizes that A is not equal to B. Practically, it’s used when a statement must exclude both possibilities: that A is a subset of B, and that A matches B exactly. This symbol is useful in proofs, formal definitions, and algorithmic or rules-based text where you need unambiguous set comparison language rather than separate statements.

Common uses

  • Set comparisons in math notes (e.g., A ⊈ B to state containment fails).
  • Writing strict checks in logic or specification documents where equality should also be excluded.
  • Clarifying relationships between collections in teaching materials and worksheets.
  • Labeling constraints in diagrams or pseudo-code for formal reasoning.
  • Annotating proof steps to indicate a case is ruled out (“not subset and not equal”).

Examples

⊈ Neither a subset of nor equal to

  • Let A ⊈ B, so A is not contained in B.
  • Since S ⊈ T, S cannot be formed only from elements of T.
  • We verify that X ⊈ Y before applying the next rule.
  • The condition U ⊈ V shows equality is not allowed either.
  • If A ⊈ B, then A is not a subset of B and A ≠ B.

Variations

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Technical codes

UnicodeU+2288
HTML Entity⊈
HTML Code⊈
CSS\2288

FAQ

What does ⊈ mean in set notation?

⊈ means “neither a subset of nor equal to,” i.e., the set is not a subset and not equal to the other set.

Is ⊈ the same as “not a subset of”?

It’s related, but ⊈ is stronger: it also excludes the equality case, not just subset-hood.

How can I type or paste ⊈ on my device?

You can copy it from this page directly, or use the Unicode code point U+2288 in tools that support Unicode input.

What are the code escapes for ⊈?

HTML entity: ⊈ CSS escape: \\2288 JavaScript (Unicode): \\u{2288}.