In
heraldry, an
ordinary (or
honourable ordinary) is a simple geometrical figure, bounded by straight lines and running from side to side or top to bottom of the
shield. There are also some geometric
charges known as
subordinaries, which have been given lesser status by some heraldic writers, though most have been in use as long as the traditional ordinaries.
Diminutives of ordinaries and some subordinaries are charges of the same shape, though thinner. Most of the ordinaries are theoretically said to occupy one-third of the shield; but this is rarely observed in practice, except when the ordinary is the only charge (as in the
coat of arms of Austria).