heuristic

American  

[hyoo-ris-tik, yoo-] / hyʊˈrɪs tɪk, yʊ- /

adjective

1. serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation.

2. encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems independently, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error.

   The course uses a heuristic teaching method to allow students to find answers without being directly taught.

3. of, relating to, or based on experimentation, evaluation, or trial-and-error methods.

4. Computers, Mathematics. pertaining to a trial-and-error method of problem solving used when an algorithmic approach is impractical.

---

noun

1. a heuristic method of argument.

2. the study of heuristic procedure.

heuristic British  

/ hjʊəˈrɪstɪk /

adjective

1. helping to learn; guiding in discovery or investigation

2. (of a method of teaching) allowing pupils to learn things for themselves

3. 1. maths science philosophy using or obtained by exploration of possibilities rather than by following set rules

   2. computing denoting a rule of thumb for solving a problem without the exhaustive application of an algorithm

      a heuristic solution

---

noun

1. (plural) the science of heuristic procedure

Other Word Forms

• heuristically
  adverb
• nonheuristic
  adjective
• unheuristic
  adjective
• unheuristically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of heuristic

First recorded in 1815–25; from New Latin heuristicus, equivalent to Greek heur(ískein) “to find out, discover” + Latin -isticus -istic

Explanation

A heuristic is a rule or method that helps you solve problems faster than you would if you did all the computing. It sounds fancy, but you might know a heuristic as a "rule of thumb." Derived from a Greek word that means "to discover," heuristic describes a rule or a method that comes from experience and helps you think through things, like the process of elimination, or the process of trial and error. You can think of a heuristic as a shortcut. Besides finding it in philosophy books, if you are interested in computing, you'll find references to heuristic programming. You can use it as a noun or as an adjective.

Example Sentences

Heuristic quantum algorithms need to be developed that address practical problems within the current hardware limitations.

From Nature • Mar. 2, 2017

Heuristic 'hybrid' methods that blend quantum and classical approaches could be the foundation for powerful future applications.

From Nature • Mar. 2, 2017

The Global Family Tree tricks humans into applying the Family Heuristic to all people.

From Time • Jun. 4, 2015

He recently wrote an article about the Family Heuristic, the bias to be kinder to known family.

From Time • Jun. 4, 2015

Heuristic methods have been devised to meet the difficulty.

From International Language Past, Present and Future: With Specimens of Esperanto and Grammar by Clark, Walter John