permutation
noun
Did you know?
Permutation has not changed all that much since it was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French as permutacioun, meaning "exchange, transformation." Permutacioun traces back to the Latin verb permutare, meaning "to change thoroughly, exchange," and ultimately derives from the Latin mutare, "to change." Other descendants of mutare in English include commute, mutant, and mutual. Permutation also has a specific application in the field of mathematics relating to the ordering of a given set of objects. For example, permutations of items a, b, and c are abc, acb, bac, etc.
Examples of permutation in a Sentence
Edwin Olson, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2025
The experience of Will Sheff from Okkervil River, for instance, rings true to those of us who experienced the festival from its earliest years through its later permutations.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024
Negotiations are ongoing, with the permutations involving three or more teams.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
But, as things stand, the permutations for every other team are more complicated.
—Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permutation
Cite this Entry
“Permutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permutation. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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permutation
noun
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