algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

1

: a generalization of arithmetic in which letters representing numbers are combined according to the rules of arithmetic

2

: any of various systems or branches of mathematics or logic concerned with the properties and relationships of abstract entities (such as complex numbers, matrices, sets, vectors, groups, rings, or fields) manipulated in symbolic form under operations often analogous to those of arithmetic compare boolean algebra

algebraist

ˈal-jə-ˌbrā-ist 

noun

Examples of algebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2023 and 2024, UC’s faculty admissions board reversed that ruling, finding that three of the most popular data science classes were too light on algebra to count. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Calculus builds upon the principles of standard algebra, which itself was iterated upon over thousands of years, from as far back as ancient Babylon. — Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 23 July 2026

While everything from algebra to essay writing may have been covered in school, a subject area often left off the curriculum is personal finance. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 13 July 2026

Math professors report that students racing through the calculus sequence arrive in college with dangerously weak algebra foundations. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr, literally, the reduction

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing algebra

• abstract algebra
• Boolean algebra
• linear algebra

Kids Definition

algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

: a branch of mathematics that uses letters to represent numbers and that studies numbers and the operations (as multiplication and addition) that are used on them

algebraic

ˌal-jə-ˈbrā-ik

adjective

algebraically

-ˈbrā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb