algorithm

noun

al·go·rithm | \ ˈal-gə-ˌri-t͟həm

Definition of algorithm

: 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

Other Words from algorithm What Does algorithm Mean? More Example Sentences Learn More about algorithm

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Other Words from algorithm

algorithmic \ ˌal-gə-ˈrit͟h-mik

\ adjective

algorithmically \ ˌal-gə-ˈrit͟h-mi-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

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 In The Startup Wife, a brilliant coder (with a pi tattoo, no less) writes a new algorithm and builds an app that essentially replaces religious rituals. — Rachel King, Fortune, 29 May 2021 When OpenAI demonstrated a powerful artificial intelligence algorithm capable of generating coherent text last June, its creators warned that the tool could potentially be wielded as a weapon of online misinformation. — Will Knight, Wired, 24 May 2021 Mining can be easily described as solving/computing a complex algorithm in order to prove the authenticity of previous transactions on the network. — Kenneth Rapoza, Forbes, 16 May 2021 The company uses a quick questionnaire that takes your responses and analyzes them through a proprietary algorithm, then provides you with a pillow closest to one of its 35 variations for $95. — Nina Huang, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2021 To divvy up doses, federal administrators use a simple algorithm. — New York Times, 7 Feb. 2021 Specifically, Barr refuted the allegations of a mysterious algorithm that allegedly switched votes from Trump to Biden. — Jamie Mcintyre, Washington Examiner, 2 Dec. 2020 The app's For You page, which is fed with by a powerful algorithm that surfaces curated content to each user, has earned a reputation for turning everyday users into overnight stars. — Natalie Jarvey, Billboard, 23 Nov. 2020 Winkelstein is collaborating with Cerner to develop a Covid-19 prediction algorithm on behalf of his health system. — Erin Brodwin, STAT, 18 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'algorithm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.