Set Theory Symbols: Names, Meanings and LaTeX Codes
This cheat sheet lists 15 Set Theory symbols from nyuyo. It includes complement, contains-as-member, element-of and more. Each entry shows the symbol, its meaning, LaTeX command, Unicode code point and HTML entity. Every entry also shows how to read an example aloud.
complement
Character
∁
Name
Complement
Meaning
Written before a set, it means every element of the universal set that is not in that set. It is also written Aᶜ or with a bar over the set.
LaTeX
\complement
Unicode
U+2201
HTML entity
∁
Example expression
∁A = U ∖ A
Read aloud
the complement of A equals U minus A
Related symbols
Set Minus, Union
contains-as-member
Character
∋
Name
Contains as Member
Meaning
States that the set on the left has the object on the right as an element. It is ∈ written the other way round.
LaTeX
\ni
Unicode
U+220B
HTML entity
∋
Example expression
ℕ ∋ 5
Read aloud
the natural numbers contain five as a member
Related symbols
Element Of, Not an Element Of
element-of
Character
∈
Name
Element Of
Meaning
States that the object on the left belongs to the set on the right.
LaTeX
\in
Unicode
U+2208
HTML entity
∈
Example expression
x ∈ A
Read aloud
x is an element of A
Related symbols
Not an Element Of, Subset Of
empty-set
Character
∅
Name
Empty Set
Meaning
The set with no elements. Compare with Intersection and Union.
LaTeX
\emptyset
Unicode
U+2205
HTML entity
∅
Example expression
A ∩ B = ∅
Read aloud
A intersect B is the empty set
Related symbols
Intersection, Union, Not an Element Of
intersection
Character
∩
Name
Intersection
Meaning
Gives the set of elements that are in both sets.
LaTeX
\cap
Unicode
U+2229
HTML entity
∩
Example expression
A ∩ B
Read aloud
A intersect B
Related symbols
Union, Set Minus
not-subset-of
Character
⊄
Name
Not a Subset Of
Meaning
States that the left set has at least one element that is not in the right set.
LaTeX
\not\subset
Unicode
U+2284
HTML entity
⊄
Example expression
ℤ ⊄ ℕ
Read aloud
the integers are not a subset of the natural numbers
Related symbols
Subset Of, Proper Subset Of
not-element-of
Character
∉
Name
Not an Element Of
Meaning
States that the object on the left does not belong to the set on the right.
LaTeX
\notin
Unicode
U+2209
HTML entity
∉
Example expression
½ ∉ ℤ
Read aloud
one half is not an element of the integers
Related symbols
Element Of, Empty Set, Set Minus
power-set
Character
℘
Name
Power Set
Meaning
Written before a set, it means the set of all its subsets, including the empty set and the set itself. A set with n elements has 2ⁿ subsets.
LaTeX
\wp
Unicode
U+2118
HTML entity
℘
Example expression
℘({1, 2}) = {∅, {1}, {2}, {1, 2}}
Read aloud
the power set of one, two is the set containing the empty set, one, two, and one, two
Related symbols
Subset Of or Equal To, Empty Set, Element Of, Curly Braces
proper-subset-of
Character
⊊
Name
Proper Subset Of
Meaning
States that every element of the left set is in the right set, and the right set has at least one element the left set lacks. Unlike ⊂, it never allows the two sets to be equal.
LaTeX
\subsetneq
Unicode
U+228A
HTML entity
⊊
Example expression
ℕ ⊊ ℤ
Read aloud
the natural numbers are a proper subset of the integers
Related symbols
Subset Of, Subset Of or Equal To, Not a Subset Of, Integers
set-minus
Character
∖
Name
Set Minus
Meaning
Gives the elements of the left set that are not in the right set. This is also called the set difference.
LaTeX
\setminus
Unicode
U+2216
HTML entity
∖
Example expression
A ∖ B
Read aloud
A minus B
Related symbols
Union, Intersection
subset-of
Character
⊂
Name
Subset Of
Meaning
States that every element of the left set is also in the right set. Some authors use it only for proper subsets, where the two sets differ; others use it to allow equality.
LaTeX
\subset
Unicode
U+2282
HTML entity
⊂
Example expression
A ⊂ B
Read aloud
A is a subset of B
Related symbols
Subset Of or Equal To, Superset Of
subset-of-or-equal
Character
⊆
Name
Subset Of or Equal To
Meaning
States that every element of the left set is also in the right set, allowing the two sets to be equal.
LaTeX
\subseteq
Unicode
U+2286
HTML entity
⊆
Example expression
ℕ ⊆ ℤ
Read aloud
the natural numbers are a subset of the integers
Related symbols
Superset Of, Natural Numbers, Integers
superset-of
Character
⊃
Name
Superset Of
Meaning
States that the left set contains every element of the right set. It is the reverse of the subset symbol.
LaTeX
\supset
Unicode
U+2283
HTML entity
⊃
Example expression
B ⊃ A
Read aloud
B is a superset of A
Related symbols
Subset Of, Subset Of or Equal To
superset-of-or-equal
Character
⊇
Name
Superset Of or Equal To
Meaning
States that the left set contains every element of the right set, and may be equal to it.
LaTeX
\supseteq
Unicode
U+2287
HTML entity
⊇
Example expression
ℝ ⊇ ℤ
Read aloud
the real numbers are a superset of or equal to the integers
Related symbols
Subset Of or Equal To, Subset Of, Real Numbers
union
Character
∪
Name
Union
Meaning
Combines two sets into one set holding every element that is in either set, or in both.
LaTeX
\cup
Unicode
U+222A
HTML entity
∪
Example expression
A ∪ B
Read aloud
A union B
Related symbols
Intersection, Set Minus, Empty Set, Logical Or
FAQ
How many Set Theory symbols are on this page?
This page lists 15 Set Theory symbols, including complement, contains-as-member, element-of.
How do I type Set Theory symbols in LaTeX?
Each symbol on this page has its LaTeX command shown next to it, for example \cap, \complement, \cup. Copy the command into your maths mode.
What are the Unicode code points for Set Theory symbols?
Every symbol lists its Unicode code point, such as U+2118, U+2201, U+2205, so you can insert it in documents and web pages.
How do I write Set Theory symbols in HTML?
Each entry shows its HTML entity where one exists, for example ∩, ∁, ∪. You can paste it directly into your page.
How do I read Set Theory symbols aloud?
Each symbol has an example expression and a spoken version, such as ℘({1, 2}) = {∅, {1}, {2}, {1, 2}}, ∁A = U ∖ A, ½ ∉ ℤ read as A intersect B is the empty set, A is a subset of B.