Neither Less-than Nor Equivalent To Symbol
≴ denotes “neither less-than nor equivalent to” in formal comparisons.
U+2274
The symbol ≴ is a mathematical relation used to express a strict non-comparison and non-equivalence at the same time. It’s useful when you need to rule out both “less than” and “equivalent to” in a single operator.
Neither Less-than Nor Equivalent To Symbol Meaning
≴ (NEITHER LESS-THAN NOR EQUIVALENT TO) combines two ideas into one relation: it states that a value is not less than another value and it is also not equivalent to it. In mathematical and technical contexts, this helps avoid ambiguity by expressing a stronger “not comparable in these ways” constraint. You may see it in formal proofs, logic-style specifications, or documentation where a particular ordering and equivalence are both ruled out. When typesetting, treat it like a standard relational operator (similar in role to other comparison symbols).
Common uses
- •Specifying constraints in logic or formal specifications where two conditions must both be excluded
- •Writing math statements that explicitly rule out ordering (<) and equivalence (≡/≈-style relations) together
- •Annotating datasets or rule sets in technical documentation (e.g., “must not be less than or equivalent to” thresholds)
- •Creating consistent notation in academic notes, worksheets, or problem statements
- •Formatting conditions in reports or specifications that compare two quantities with a single symbol
Examples
≴ Neither less-than nor equivalent to
- ≴If x ≴ y, then x is not less than y and x is not equivalent to y.
- ≴For all items i, i ≴ bound means i cannot be below the bound and cannot match it by equivalence.
- ≴The condition a ≴ b eliminates both the “less-than” and “equivalent-to” cases.
- ≴When n ≴ m, we treat the pair as neither ordered below nor equivalently equal.
- ≴In the constraint set, t ≴ s rejects both strict reduction and equivalence.
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+2274 | |
| HTML Entity | ≴ | |
| HTML Code | ≴ | |
| CSS | \2274 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 8820 | |
| Decimal | 8820 |
How to type Neither Less-than Nor Equivalent To Symbol (≴)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 8820 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 2274 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 2274. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 2274, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ≴ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does ≴ mean?
≴ means “neither less-than nor equivalent to,” indicating that something is not less than another value and not equivalent to it.
When should I use ≴ instead of separate comparison symbols?
Use ≴ when you want to exclude both “less-than” and “equivalent-to” in a single, unambiguous relation rather than writing two separate statements.
What are the correct character details for ≴?
The symbol is ≴, Unicode name is “NEITHER LESS-THAN NOR EQUIVALENT TO,” Unicode codepoint is U+2274, HTML entity is ≴, CSS escape is \\2274, and JavaScript escape is \\u{2274}.
How can I copy ≴ into my documents or code?
Copy the character ≴ directly, or paste an encoded form like ≴, \\2274, or \\u{2274} depending on your tool or programming language.