Synonyms

information retrieval

American

noun

the systematic storage and recovery of data, as from a file, card catalog, or the memory bank of a computer. IR

information retrieval British

noun

computing the process of recovering specific information from stored data

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of information retrieval

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

It could also potentially work for information retrieval — where facts can be validated to ensure they are correct.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023

A key issue is that those who co-operate with a new information retrieval body can be granted immunity from prosecution.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2023

The site tracks the most-discussed papers, top emerging topics and trending quotes from news sources, including National Public Radio and FOXnews.com, using neural networks and old-school information retrieval.

From Nature • Jun. 8, 2020

A 2019 meta-analysis of information retrieval algorithms used in search engines concluded the “high-water mark … was actually set in 2009.”

From Science Magazine • May 27, 2020

The web was just a glimmer, gopher was the new hot technology, and FTP was still the standard information retrieval protocol for the vast majority of users.

From A Short History of EBooks by Lebert, Marie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023