algorithm

noun

al·​go·​rithm ˈal-gə-ˌri-t͟həm How to pronounce algorithm (audio)
: a procedure for solving a mathematical problem (as of finding the greatest common divisor) in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation
broadly : a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end
There are several search engines, with Google, Yahoo and Bing being the biggest players. Each search engine has its own proprietary computation (called an "algorithm") that ranks websites for each keyword or combination of keywords. Julie Brinton
… sometimes you solve a problem by coming up with an algorithm of some kind. But sometimes you solve a problem in a very ad hoc sort of way. William H. Huggins
algorithmic adjective
algorithmically adverb

Did you know?

What Does algorithm Mean?

The current term of choice for a problem-solving procedure, algorithm, is commonly used nowadays for the set of rules a machine (and especially a computer) follows to achieve a particular goal. It does not always apply to computer-mediated activity, however. The term may as accurately be used of the steps followed in making a pizza or solving a Rubik’s Cube as for computer-powered data analysis.

Algorithm is often paired with words specifying the activity for which a set of rules have been designed. A search algorithm, for example, is a procedure that determines what kind of information is retrieved from a large mass of data. An encryption algorithm is a set of rules by which information or messages are encoded so that unauthorized persons cannot read them.

Though first attested in the early 20th century (and, until recently, used strictly as a term of mathematics and computing), algorithm has a surprisingly deep history. It was formed from algorism “the system of Arabic numerals,” a word that goes back to Middle English and ultimately stems from the name of a 9th-century Persian mathematician, abu-Jaʽfar Mohammed ibn-Mūsa al-Khuwārizmi, who did important work in the fields of algebra and numeric systems.

Examples of algorithm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Trading in global markets is now more readily available because AI algorithms can work 24/7, creating opportunities in different time zones. Atal Bansal, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Google’s past efforts to increase the diversity of its algorithms’ output have met with less opprobrium. Will Knight, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 Simultaneously, an algorithm built by Neutrogena’s former parent company Johnson & Johnson recommends the correct products based on the findings. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 These include default screen time limits for teen users, the ability for parents to mute their child’s notifications and tweaks to the app’s algorithms to avoid repeatedly serving users videos on potentially problematic topics, such as dieting or sadness. Clare Duffy, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 The Pentagon has been using computer vision algorithms to help identify targets for airstrikes, according to a report from Bloomberg News. Lucas Ropek / Gizmodo, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2024 Whitaker said social media platforms had opaque algorithms that prevent users from fully understanding how content curation happens. Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 Other duties include developing novel algorithms, proposing improvements and designing metrics. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 Likewise, the opaque nature of AI algorithms also poses challenges. Neil Sahota, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English algorisme, from Old French & Medieval Latin; Old French, from Medieval Latin algorismus, from Arabic al-khuwārizmi, from al-Khwārizmī flourished a.d. 825 Islamic mathematician

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of algorithm was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near algorithm

Cite this Entry

“Algorithm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/algorithm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

algorithm

noun
al·​go·​rithm ˈal-gə-ˌrit͟h-əm How to pronounce algorithm (audio)
: a step-by-step method for solving a problem (as finding the greatest common divisor) or accomplishing a goal

More from Merriam-Webster on algorithm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!