algebra
Americannoun
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algebras
plural
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the branch of mathematics that deals with general statements of relations, utilizing letters and other symbols to represent specific sets of numbers, values, vectors, etc., in the description of such relations.
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any of several algebraic systems, especially a ring in which elements can be multiplied by real or complex numbers linear algebra as well as by other elements of the ring.
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any special system of notation adapted to the study of a special system of relationship.
algebra of classes.
noun
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a branch of mathematics in which arithmetical operations and relationships are generalized by using alphabetic symbols to represent unknown numbers or members of specified sets of numbers
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the branch of mathematics dealing with more abstract formal structures, such as sets, groups, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of algebra
1535–45; < Medieval Latin < Arabic al-jabr literally, restoration
Explanation
If the math equation you're doing has letters or other symbols that stand for numbers, you're likely doing algebra. You probably took your first algebra class early in your high school years. The noun algebra comes from Arabic word al jebr, meaning "reunion of broken parts," which appeared in the title of mathematician al-Khwarizmi's famous book on equations. In algebra you use basic arithmetic like addition and subtraction, but the quantities you're working with are often unknown — that's why they're represented by letters. You might remember solving algebra equations that look like this: a(b + c) = ab + ac. The letters a, b, and c all represent a number.
Vocabulary lists containing algebra
English Words Derived from Arabic
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Expressions and Equations
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He started popping algebra questions into the search bar to quickly finish off his daily schoolwork.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
At a selective high school, she failed an algebra exam she expected to ace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
In 2023 and 2024, UC’s faculty admissions board reversed that ruling, finding that three of the most popular data science classes were too light on algebra to count.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
In 2013, UC approved a data science course, submitted by Los Angeles Unified, to broaden math options, and by 2020 allowed such courses to substitute for advanced algebra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Surely if I think about algebra equations or start counting laundry machines, I'll fall right back asleep.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
Jones’s speciality, operator algebras, provided a powerful tool in the study of knots.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
In 1984, while working at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Jones came across some formulas that his nested algebras satisfied.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
Jones’s main focus continued to be Von Neumann algebras and their connections to other fields.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
Borcherds’ discovery touched off a revolution in pure mathematics, leading to a new field known as generalized Kac-Moody algebras.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 7, 2015
Per hundred 7.20 Algebra Some of these algebras are published both with and without answers.
From Complete Classified Price List of School and College Textbooks January 1915 by Anonymous
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
