noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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miscomputationnoun
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noncomputationnoun
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recomputationnoun
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computationaladjective
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computativeadjective
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computativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of computation
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin computātiōn-, stem of computātiō, from computāt(us) “reckoned” (past participle of computāre “to reckon, sum up”; see compute) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Computation is what you do when you calculate something, like a simple math problem or something involving quantum mechanics or — worse — even your taxes. People have invented all kinds of machines to help with computation, from the abacus to the computer, and, in fact, when computers were first invented (and when one computer could easily fill a large room), using a computer was called computation. Much of what made computers so revolutionary was that in a relatively short time they could do a complex mathematical computation that would take a human many lifetimes to do.
Vocabulary lists containing computation
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
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Expressions and Equations
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Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" (1849)
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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:
The achievement reflects a broader transformation in neuroscience, where progress increasingly depends as much on engineering and computation as on biology.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
For AI the scope of mathematics seems limited only by the cost of computation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Importantly, we don’t identify the computation itself – there is science yet to be done.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
Markets are not data puzzles to be “solved” by powerful computation.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026
When Langley sponsored a series of computation courses to be held after work and on weekends, Dorothy wasted no time enrolling.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Fields Medal, regarded as the Nobel prize equivalent for mathematics, was handed out on Thursday in the US as human computations are increasingly challenged by AI.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
He also wants to launch solar-powered orbital data centers that would perform AI computations in space.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
This is a model that abstracts away from anatomical detail to focus on the core computations done by simple brains.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
Under the hood, chatbots and the A.I. bots they power are nothing but a series of static math computations strung together in rapid succession.
From Slate ● May 25, 2026
Get the teacher who had passed him, an algebra teacher no less, to do the computations again.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
