machine learning

noun

1

: a computational method that is a subfield of artificial intelligence and that enables a computer to learn to perform tasks by analyzing a large dataset without being explicitly programmed

The company is curating the overall topics manually, but Twitter will be relying on machine learning to intelligently populate the topics themselves so that the tweets can stay up to date.

—Lucas Matney

Unsupervised learning, also known as unsupervised machine learning, uses machine learning algorithms to analyze and cluster unlabeled datasets. These algorithms discover hidden patterns or data groupings without the need for human intervention.

—IBM

Supervised machine learning requires labeled data to adjust the parameters of the model during training. … But without quality training data, supervised learning models will end up making poor inferences.

—Ben Dickson

Reinforcement machine learning trains machines through trial and error to take the best action by establishing a reward system. Reinforcement learning can train models to play games or train autonomous vehicles to drive by telling the machine when it made the right decisions, which helps it learn over time what actions it should take.

—Sara Brown

2

: the branch of computer science that employs machine learning

An entire subspecialty known as machine learning is devoted to building algorithms that allow computers to develop new behaviors based on experience.

—Adam Piore

While many scholars in the developing field of machine learning were focused on improving algorithms, [Cynthia] Rudin instead wanted to use AI's power to help society.

—Duke University

—abbreviation ML

Examples of machine learning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like nuclear-fission research, machine learning was a small scientific field with epochal implications which was dominated by a cadre of eccentric geniuses. —Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

StockStory’s technology focuses on scalable analysis of public companies, combining data, machine learning, AI, and editorial frameworks to generate investment insights. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

The spokesperson adds that Pandora uses a multilayered strategy that combines human experts in various genres with machine learning and other tools to spot and filter suspicious activity, protect data quality, and continuously improve its fraud-detection methods. —Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026

This showed us that visual cues guided by residents’ observations can be translated into a reliable machine learning signal. —Isaac Quaye, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for machine learning

• adjourning
• concerning
• discerning
• returning
• burning
• churning
• earning
• spurning
• turning
• yearning
• overturning