noun
Common
algorithm
ALGUH-rihthm
Algorithm (noun) means a precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, especially in computing. Example: “Follow this algorithm and you will always find the shortest route between two stops.”
noun
1
A precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, especially in computing.
"Follow this algorithm and you will always find the shortest route between two stops."
"The app uses an algorithm to suggest videos based on what you watched before."
"Engineers tested several algorithms before finding the fastest way to sort the data."
2
(informal) The automated system on a social media or streaming platform that decides what content users see.
"Creators often complain that the algorithm hides their newest videos from followers."
"I keep getting cooking clips because the algorithm thinks I love baking."
"She joked that the algorithm knew her better than her friends did."
How to use algorithm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA set of rules a computer (or person) follows to solve a problem — in casual speech, often shorthand for the recommendation system behind an app.
Common pairings
run an algorithm
search algorithm
the algorithm recommends
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Word forms
- Plural
- algorithms
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Follow this _____ and you will always find the shortest route between two stops.
Etymology
From the name of the ninth-century Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi, via Medieval Latin algorismus.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “algorithm” mean?
The word “algorithm” means a precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, especially in computing. In plain terms, a set of rules a computer (or person) follows to solve a problem — in casual speech, often shorthand for the recommendation system behind an app.
How do you pronounce “algorithm”?
“Algorithm” is pronounced ALGUH-rihthm (/ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “algorithm” in a sentence?
Here is “algorithm” used in a sentence: “The app uses an algorithm to suggest videos based on what you watched before.”
What part of speech is “algorithm”?
“Algorithm” is a noun.
Where does the word “algorithm” come from?
The word “algorithm” dates back to around 800 and comes from Medieval Latin. From the name of the ninth-century Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi, via Medieval Latin algorismus.
Is “algorithm” a common word?
“Algorithm” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “algorithm” have?
“Algorithm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, especially in computing.
What is the difference between an algorithm and a program?
An algorithm is the precise, step-by-step method for solving a problem, independent of any programming language, while a program is that method written out in actual code a computer can run. The same algorithm can be implemented in many different programs.
What do people mean by "the algorithm" on social media?
Informally, "the algorithm" is the automated system on a social media or streaming platform that decides what content each user sees. Saying a video "beat the algorithm" means the platform's recommendation system chose to show it to a large audience.
What is the difference between an algorithm and a logarithm?
They are unrelated despite sounding alike. An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions for completing a task, especially in computing, while a logarithm is a mathematical function: the power to which a base number must be raised to produce a given value.
Does an algorithm have to involve a computer?
No. Any precise, repeatable set of steps, such as long division or a recipe followed exactly, counts as an algorithm. Computing made the word central because computers need every instruction spelled out step by step.
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