machine learning

noun

1

: a computational method that is a subfield of artificial intelligence and that enables a computer to learn to perform tasks by analyzing a large dataset without being explicitly programmed

The company is curating the overall topics manually, but Twitter will be relying on machine learning to intelligently populate the topics themselves so that the tweets can stay up to date.

—Lucas Matney

Unsupervised learning, also known as unsupervised machine learning, uses machine learning algorithms to analyze and cluster unlabeled datasets. These algorithms discover hidden patterns or data groupings without the need for human intervention.

—IBM

Supervised machine learning requires labeled data to adjust the parameters of the model during training. … But without quality training data, supervised learning models will end up making poor inferences.

—Ben Dickson

Reinforcement machine learning trains machines through trial and error to take the best action by establishing a reward system. Reinforcement learning can train models to play games or train autonomous vehicles to drive by telling the machine when it made the right decisions, which helps it learn over time what actions it should take.

—Sara Brown

2

: the branch of computer science that employs machine learning

An entire subspecialty known as machine learning is devoted to building algorithms that allow computers to develop new behaviors based on experience.

—Adam Piore

While many scholars in the developing field of machine learning were focused on improving algorithms, [Cynthia] Rudin instead wanted to use AI's power to help society.

—Duke University

—abbreviation ML

Examples of machine learning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This idea itself isn’t new; researchers have cited data poisoning as a potential vulnerability in machine learning for years, particularly in smaller models or academic settings. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025

Boutros’ work has explored the prospects of AI, machine learning and computational science as a means to design studies and analyze large sets of data. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025

Zelig has about 30 employees including those involved in AI, machine learning, infrastructure engineering, and computer vision. —David Moin, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025

Large language models and machine learning technologies are built on human data, operate from human prompts, and give human-like responses. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for machine learning

• adjourning
• concerning
• discerning
• returning
• burning
• churning
• earning
• spurning
• turning
• yearning
• overturning