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permutation

noun per·mu·ta·tion \ ˌpər-myü-ˈtā-shən \
|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of permutation

1 : often major or fundamental change (as in character or condition) based primarily on rearrangement of existent elements
  • the system has gone through several permutations
; also : a form or variety resulting from such change
  • technology available in various permutations
2 a : the act or process of changing the lineal order of an ordered set of objects
b : an ordered arrangement of a set of objects
—

permutational

play \ˌpər-myü-ˈtā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

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Recent Examples of permutation from the Web

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Did You Know?

Permutation has not changed all that much since it was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French in the 14th century as permutacioun, meaning "exchange, transformation." Permutacioun traces back to the Latin verb permutare, meaning "to change thoroughly, exchange," and ultimately derives from the Latin mutare, to change. Other descendants of mutare in English include commute, mutant, and mutual. Permutation also has a specific application in the field of mathematics relating to the ordering of a given set of objects. For example, permutations of items a, b, and c are abc, acb, bac, etc.

Origin and Etymology of permutation

Middle English permutacioun exchange, transformation, from Anglo-French, from Latin permutation-, permutatio, from permutare

PERMUTATION Defined for English Language Learners

permutation

noun

Definition of permutation for English Language Learners

  • : one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged

Learn More about permutation

  1. See words that rhyme with permutation Spanish Central: Translation of permutation Britannica English: Translation of permutation for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about permutation

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permutation

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