polynomial

1 of 2

noun

poly·​no·​mi·​al ˌpä-lə-ˈnō-mē-əl 

: a mathematical expression of one or more algebraic terms each of which consists of a constant multiplied by one or more variables raised to a nonnegative integral power (such as a + bx + cx²)

polynomial

2 of 2

adjective

: relating to, composed of, or expressed as one or more polynomials

polynomial functions

polynomial equations

Examples of polynomial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The first is the degree of the polynomial that defines the curve—the higher the degree is, the weaker the statement becomes. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026

Its techniques are wholly unfamiliar to the mathematicians who have dedicated their careers to classifying polynomials. —Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 12 Dec. 2025

Adjective

When the rebels marched northeast toward the city of Aleppo on November 27, 2024, Assad was in Russia, where his son would be defending his Ph.D. dissertation on number theory and polynomial representations at Moscow State University. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026

The approach that started in 2001 with Spielman and Teng showed how runtimes can be reduced from exponential to polynomial time. —Steve Nadis, Wired News, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

poly- + -nomial (as in binomial)

First Known Use

Noun

1674, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1704, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing polynomial

• characteristic polynomial

Rhymes for polynomial

• multinomial
• nosocomial
• binomial
• monomial
• trinomial

Kids Definition

polynomial

1 of 2 noun

poly·​no·​mi·​al ˌpäl-i-ˈnō-mē-əl 

: an algebraic expression having two or more terms

the polynomial a² + 2ab − b²

polynomial

2 of 2 adjective

: relating to, composed of, or expressed as one or more polynomials

7023 written as 7(10³) + 0(10²) + 2(10¹) + 3(10⁰) is in polynomial form