prime number

noun

: any integer other than 0 or ± 1 that is not divisible without remainder by any other integers except ± 1 and ± the integer itself

Examples of prime number in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In particular, mathematicians look at curves over finite fields — systems of cyclical arithmetic that are defined for each prime number. Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 That’s because the secret prime numbers that underpin the security of an RSA key are easy to calculate using Shor’s algorithm. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 26 Jan. 2023 There's also a fear of the prime number called triskaidekaphobia. USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Introduction More than 2,000 years ago, the Greek mathematician Eratosthenes came up with a method for finding prime numbers that continues to reverberate through mathematics today. Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023 But mathematicians… There’s a few isolated areas of mathematics such as like, tiling, two-dimensional tiling, and maybe finding records in prime numbers. Quanta Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 Pseudorandom properties and searches for them have all sorts of applications, from understanding prime numbers to something called quantum chaos (my pick for the area of mathematical physics that would make the best band name). Christopher Lutsko, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2024 The one-way function for RSA works in a similar manner but relies on the multiplication and factorization of large prime numbers. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2023 Because 10 is not a prime number, such unpleasant zero divisors occur. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prime number.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

translation of Late Latin prīmus numerus, translation of Greek prôtos arithmós

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prime number was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near prime number

Cite this Entry

“Prime number.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime%20number. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prime number

noun
: a whole number other than 0 or ±1 that is not divisible without a remainder by any other whole numbers except ±1 and ± itself

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