computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

-pyü-

1

a

: the act or action of computing : calculation

b

: the use or operation of a computer

2

: a system of reckoning

3

: an amount computed

computational

ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

-pyü-

adjective

computationally adverb

Synonyms of computation

• calculation
• math
• arithmetic

Examples of computation in a Sentence

methods used for the computation of taxes

The solution required a series of computations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Techno-Resource Sovereignty is the science of harnessing the subsurface earth and energy resources through the lens of computation. —Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

Nonlinear computation achieved nearly 988 giga operations per second per watt. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026

Super Micro makes high-performance computer servers that can accommodate hyper-advanced computations and processes needed for artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

And at the very top, nature was perfectly described via impossibly intensive computation—something like what God might see. —Chi Chen, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for computation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or action of computing : calculation

2

: a system of calculating especially by mathematical means

3

: an amount computed

computational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective