permutation
noun
Did you know?
Permutation has not changed all that much since it was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French as permutacioun, meaning "exchange, transformation." Permutacioun traces back to the Latin verb permutare, meaning "to change thoroughly, exchange," and ultimately derives from the Latin mutare, "to change." Other descendants of mutare in English include commute, mutant, and mutual. Permutation also has a specific application in the field of mathematics relating to the ordering of a given set of objects. For example, permutations of items a, b, and c are abc, acb, bac, etc.
Examples of permutation in a Sentence
Sam Joseph and Jacob Lev, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
In all the combinations and permutations that would decide the Lakers’ play-in future, Friday night in Memphis was the gimme.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
No human can have in their mind all possible permutations and combinations.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Technology in all its forms and permutations is a commodity input.
—John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Despite the general consensus about kids and phones, the increasing reliance of schools on tablets and laptops means that most students are simply trading one screen for another, with many remaining glued to some permutation of social media, video games, and their hovering parents.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
According to Roberts, the team came to the decision after conversing with each of the three players — none of them had strong preferences, Roberts said — and contemplating the pros and cons of each lineup permutation.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
This is the vehicle that, with plenty of permutations and upgrades, Musk says will ferry cargo and people across the Solar System to build a settlement on Mars, making humanity a multi-planetary species and achieving the billionaire's long-standing dream.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024
Mookie Betts did not want to ruminate through future permutations.
—Noah Furtado, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permutation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near permutation
Cite this Entry
“Permutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permutation. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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permutation
noun
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