notation

noun

no·​ta·​tion nō-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce notation (audio)
1
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
notational adjective

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
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.
Hall and his team of cutters typically take 27 measurements, and add notations about posture, and physical asymmetries. Samantha Conti, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 Enclose with your contribution the donor’s address with city, state and ZIP code for internal processing, a notation of whether the donation should remain anonymous, whether the donation is in the memory of someone special. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024 There was no mention of the election in the minutes, save for a staff notation that stock market volatility rose before the Nov. 5 results and fell after. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2024 His approach is the opposite of the usual popularizations of math, where ideas are translated into plain English and notation is largely avoided. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for notation 

Word History

Etymology

Latin notation-, notatio, from notare to note

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of notation was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near notation

Cite this Entry

“Notation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notation. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

notation

noun
no·​ta·​tion nō-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce notation (audio)
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
notational
-shnəl How to pronounce notation (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on notation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!