Meaning of algorithm in English

algorithm

specialized

/ˈæl.ɡər.ɪ.ðəm/ us

/ˈæl.ɡər.ɪ.ðəm/

mathematics, computing

a set of mathematical instructions or rules that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a problem:

A digital fingerprint of the document is created using a specially developed set of algorithms.

An algorithm used by the police deemed the victim to be at "medium risk" from her partner only a few days before she was killed.

internet & telecoms

a set of instructions or rules that a computer application such as a social media or news website uses to decide what content (= stories, images, videos, etc.) should be shown to a particular user:

There is concern that algorithms used by internet platforms are rapidly amplifying extreme misogynistic content.

As an influencer, she is very interested in the algorithm and how things go viral on social media.

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A new quantum algorithm is speeding up solving a huge class of problems.
The algorithm, inspired by one used in video games, can rapidly detect high-energy particle collisions for fusion reactors.
We are looking for someone with experience of developing software and algorithms for scientific data collection and analysis.
Music apps use algorithms to predict the probability that fans of one particular band will like another.
Control your algorithm rather than letting it control you: make conscious choices about what you want to see on your feed, finding the best possible content and not spending time on rubbish.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Calculations & calculating

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Computer concepts

Internet terminology

Computer programming & software

Related words

algorithmic

algorithmics

Examples from literature

"I asked her how to find the calling procedure's program counter on the stack and she came up with an algorithm in real time."
"That algorithm is bogus."
Additionally, a more intelligent algorithm may imply more long-term complexity cost and bug-chasing than are justified by the speed improvement.
The choice for people then is made by some algorithm or calculating machine.
Those who are convinced that such patterns and algorithms capture the complete essence of the self view this prospect with pleasant anticipation.

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

algorithm | American Dictionary

algorithm

noun [ C ]

us/ˈæl·ɡəˌrɪð·əm/

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mathematics

a list of instructions for solving a problem

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

algorithm | Business English

algorithm

noun [ C ]

/ˈælɡərɪðəm/ us

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a set of mathematical instructions that must be followed in a fixed order, and that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a mathematical problem:

a computer/mathematical/search algorithm The exchanges created computer algorithm systems to recreate the trading activity.

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of algorithm

algorithm

The general idea of the algorithm is as follows.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The following algorithm is used to construct general calottes.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This algorithm used the one-dimensional central section of the filter.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

So, permitted deceleration of the mobile robot is restricted by the proposed algorithm.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The upshot of this is that adaptation to nonstationarity does not require qualitative changes in a learning algorithm.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

However, the error is quick to decrease and enter the range of error of the other algorithms.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In the epidemiological literature, however, insomnia tends to be defined using a variety of approaches, ranging from rigorous diagnostic algorithms, to single questionnaire items.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Psychological models and learning algorithms should be classified at a more abstract level.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

If there are degeneracies in the set, the algorithm returns zero area and a triplet of collinear points.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This paper continues the approach of the second author, of analysing algorithms on random structures using a differential equation method.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

We can then measure the average running time of these algorithms on random instances.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The new team-based algorithm took substantially more time to run to completion than the original separable algorithm.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In five well-organised chapters, the authors cover sensors, synthesis and algorithms.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of algorithm?