optimization

noun

op·ti·mi·za·tion ˌäp-tə-mə-ˈzā-shən

: an act, process, or methodology of making something (such as a design, system, or decision) as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible

specifically : the mathematical procedures (such as finding the maximum of a function) involved in this

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Optimization started its gradual perfection in mid-19th-century English, when it was derived from optimize, a word first used in the early part of that same century with the meaning "to make the best or most of." In basic applications, optimization refers to the act or process of making something as good as it can be. In the 21st century, it has seen much use in technical contexts having to do with attaining the best possible functionality, as in "network optimization" and "search engine optimization" (SEO). Like the words optimum and optimism (which refer, respectively, to the amount or degree of something that is best or most effective, and to a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future), optimize and optimization derive from Latin optimus, meaning "best."

Examples of optimization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Understanding key contract terms—such as payment rates and reimbursement schedules—and centralizing this information ensures easy access for ongoing evaluation and future optimization. —

Chandler Barron, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 Some third-party commentators have touched on the potential impact of tools like AI Overviews, which will allow users to cut out third-party websites altogether, on the search engine optimization (SEO) industry. —

Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 13 Oct. 2024 This one is designed to run for 25-30 years, and features several design optimizations to see it through that life span. —

Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024 The technique proved broadly applicable to a host of optimization problems—mathematical quandaries in which one ideal solution is selected from a very large number of possibilities. —

Lee Billings, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for optimization

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'optimization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.