algorithm

noun

al·​go·​rithm ˈal-gə-ˌri-t͟həm 

: a procedure for solving a mathematical problem (as of finding the greatest common divisor) in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation

broadly : a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end

There are several search engines, with Google, Yahoo and Bing being the biggest players. Each search engine has its own proprietary computation (called an "algorithm") that ranks websites for each keyword or combination of keywords.

—Julie Brinton

… sometimes you solve a problem by coming up with an algorithm of some kind. But sometimes you solve a problem in a very ad hoc sort of way.

—William H. Huggins

algorithmic

ˌal-gə-ˈrit͟h-mik 

adjective

algorithmically

ˌal-gə-ˈrit͟h-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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What Does algorithm Mean?

The current term of choice for a problem-solving procedure, algorithm, is commonly used nowadays for the set of rules a machine (and especially a computer) follows to achieve a particular goal. It does not always apply to computer-mediated activity, however. The term may as accurately be used of the steps followed in making a pizza or solving a Rubik’s Cube as for computer-powered data analysis.

Algorithm is often paired with words specifying the activity for which a set of rules have been designed. A search algorithm, for example, is a procedure that determines what kind of information is retrieved from a large mass of data. An encryption algorithm is a set of rules by which information or messages are encoded so that unauthorized persons cannot read them.

Though first attested in the early 20th century (and, until recently, used strictly as a term of mathematics and computing), algorithm has a surprisingly deep history. It was formed from algorism “the system of Arabic numerals,” a word that goes back to Middle English and ultimately stems from the name of a 9th-century Persian mathematician, abu-Jaʽfar Mohammed ibn-Mūsa al-Khuwārizmi, who did important work in the fields of algebra and numeric systems.

Examples of algorithm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Facing a tough advertising climate and continual threats to business like changes to social media algorithms, titles such as Sports Illustrated, Time and Buzzfeed have made significant cuts this year alone, while the downfalls of The Messenger and Vice News have led to hundreds of job losses. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

But the Internet Archive provided the software to organize the sprawling collection, including algorithms to decipher handwriting to turn centuries-old penmanship into digital text ready for modern readers. —Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024

Another fascinating insight into the business of distributing and monetizing content is how social media is shifting the power of distribution from creators to the platforms’ algorithms. —Nick Kasmik, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

But future innovation in how the algorithms function may allow for more closely integrated feedback loops that are less prone to errors. —David Zuluaga Martínez, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Barrington says specific algorithms could detect deepfakes of world leaders whose voices are well known and documented, such as President Biden. —Huo Jingnan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

A lot of energy has been spent trying to pick the lock of the recommendation algorithms that can make or break a song on Spotify and other streaming services. —Brett Martin, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024

For example, many companies are using hiring algorithms to surface talent. —Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

In addition, changes to the platform’s policies now allow the content of anyone willing to pay $8 per month for a verified account to be artificially boosted by the X algorithm, forcing them in front of more people than ever before. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English algorisme, from Old French & Medieval Latin; Old French, from Medieval Latin algorismus, from Arabic al-khuwārizmi, from al-Khwārizmī flourished a.d. 825 Islamic mathematician

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing algorithm

• Euclidean algorithm

Kids Definition

algorithm

noun

al·​go·​rithm ˈal-gə-ˌrit͟h-əm 

: a step-by-step method for solving a problem (as finding the greatest common divisor) or accomplishing a goal