permutation

noun

per·​mu·​ta·​tion ˌpər-myü-ˈtā-shən 

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

ˌpər-myü-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Did you know?

Permutation has not changed all that much since it was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French 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.

Examples of permutation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

About nineteen minutes in, after a meditative string of A-flats, a halting procession of some two hundred and seventy-five chords begins—permutations of eight basic types, containing up to twelve notes. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025

The Heat presented other permutations but did not want to offer Ware and was very reluctant to include Jovic or additional draft inventory. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025

Burns believes the ability to quickly work through different scientific permutations of what the next pandemic might be, and therefore quickly offering a number of potential narrative roads to go down, plays to Gen AI’s strength. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 13 June 2025

Plan Don’t Just Get a Form The key take home point, which is a point missed in many family and personal transactions, is that there are often many permutations of a plan. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing permutation

• even permutation
• odd permutation
• permutation group

Rhymes for permutation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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Kids Definition

permutation

noun

per·​mu·​ta·​tion ˌpər-myu̇-ˈtā-shən 

: an ordered arrangement of a set of objects