<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001124887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CERIDIAN CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CEN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217872</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EWALD ROBERT H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP &amp; President, HR Solutions</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>806</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12405</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>27785</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>18.29</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40190</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.06</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>16.06</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.29</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>166650</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>18.29</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-07-23</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-07-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>166650</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>166650</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person forfeited a pro rata portion of the restricted stock award granted on January 2, 2003 representing a portion of his Annual Board Retainer, as a result of the Reporting Person becoming an officer of the Issuer on July 21, 2003, but remaining on the Board of Directors of the Issuer as a non-compensated Board member.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Issuer cancelled the unvested option granted to the Reporting Person on May 21, 2003 as a result of the Reporting Person becoming an officer of the Issuer on July 21, 2003,  but remaining on the Board of Directors of the Issuer as a non-compensated Board member.</footnote><footnote id="F3">A restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Ceridian Corporation Amended and Restated 2001 Long Term Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  One-third of the shares vest on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Grant of option to purchase 166, 650 shares of common stock under the Ceridian Corporation 2001 Long Term Incentivfe Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  This option vests 55,550 shares on 07/23/2004, 55,550 shares on 07/23/2005 and 55,550 shares on 07/23/2006.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert H. Ewald</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

