information theory

American  

noun

1. the mathematical theory concerned with the content, transmission, storage, and retrieval of information, usually in the form of messages or data, and especially by means of computers.

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information theory British  

noun

1. a collection of mathematical theories, based on statistics, concerned with methods of coding, transmitting, storing, retrieving, and decoding information

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information theory Scientific  

1. A branch of mathematics that mathematically defines and analyzes the concept of information. Information theory involves statistics and probability theory, and applications include the design of systems that have to do with data transmission, encryption, compression, and other information processing.

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Etymology

Origin of information theory

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

information theory

Wu challenged students to demonstrate how information theory could be applied to a real-world problem.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

Wu noted that the project serves as an excellent example of how information theory can be used to improve performance in practical tasks.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

Modern fields of study such as cognitive neuroscience and integrated information theory also reflect technological change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

In my recent research, published in AIP Advances, I used information theory to propose a new law of physics, which I call the second law of infodynamics.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2023

Tattered spy novels, texts on information theory and binary multipliers, and an old Polish-English dictionary.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin