Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or order of items in a sequence. They help us understand rankings, such as first, second, third, and so on. For example, in a race, the runner who finishes in first place is the winner, while the one who comes in second is the runner-up. These numbers are different from cardinal numbers, which represent quantity, like one, two, or three. Ordinal numbers can be written in words (first, second, third) or as numerals with a suffix (1st, 2nd, 3rd). They are commonly used in everyday situations, such as listing items or organizing events.