notation
noun
no·ta·tion
nō-ˈtā-shən 
1
: annotation, note
2
a
: the act, process, method, or an instance of representing by a system or set of marks, signs, figures, or characters
b
: a system of characters, symbols, or abbreviated expressions used in an art or science or in mathematics or logic to express technical facts or quantities
Examples of notation in a Sentence
a mathematical notation for computer programming
he had scribbled his notation so quickly I couldn't read it
Recent Examples on the Web
In an essay from 1927, the American composer Henry Cowell identified certain shortcomings of Western musical notation.
—
Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
McIntosh, a brilliant composer who has a sideline as a virtuoso early-music violinist, revelled in the microtonal shadings that Feldman built into his notation.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Shakers invented a new form of notation to record their songs, using letters adorned with a variety of hashmarks to denote pitch and rhythm.
—Christian Goodwillie, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
At the time, the standard way of describing chess moves was descriptive notation, says John McCrary, a former president of the United States Chess Federation who maintains a collection of some 100 chess books from before 1900.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
McIntosh, a brilliant composer who has a sideline as a virtuoso early-music violinist, revelled in the microtonal shadings that Feldman built into his notation.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Shakers invented a new form of notation to record their songs, using letters adorned with a variety of hashmarks to denote pitch and rhythm.
—Christian Goodwillie, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
At the time, the standard way of describing chess moves was descriptive notation, says John McCrary, a former president of the United States Chess Federation who maintains a collection of some 100 chess books from before 1900.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notation
Cite this Entry
“Notation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notation. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
notation
noun
no·ta·tion
nō-ˈtā-shən
1
: note entry 2 sense 3a
make notations on a paper
2
: the act of noting
3
: a system of marks, signs, figures, or characters used to give specified information
musical notation
scientific notation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
