iteration

American  

[it-uh-ray-shuhn] / ˌɪt əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

• iterations
  plural

1. the act of repeating; a repetition.

2. Mathematics.

   1. Also called successive approximation. a problem-solving or computational method in which a succession of approximations, each building on the one preceding, is used to achieve a desired degree of accuracy.

   2. an instance of the use of this method.

3. Digital Technology.

   1. a repetition of a statement or statements in a computer program.

   2. a different version of an existing data set, software program, hardware device, etc..

      A new iteration of the data will be released next month.

4. a different form or version of something.

   He designed the previous iteration of our logo.

5. a development strategy that involves a cyclical process of refining or tweaking the latest version of a product, process, or idea to make a subsequent version.

   Our startup is relying on rapid iteration in the next software development cycle.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• iterations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of iteration

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English from Latin iterātiōn-, stem of iterātiō; see iterate, -ion

Explanation

An iteration is a repetition of something. Your nagging friend's message might be lost on you after the umpteenth iteration. The noun iteration comes from the Latin verb iterum, which means "again," which makes a lot of sense when you consider the meaning of the word, "the act of repeating." Don’t get confused by the similar word reiteration, which essentially means the same thing. Either word is proper to use. Although when you think about it, the "re" means again anyway, so that word actually means "to repeat again," which is in itself a little redundant, don't you think?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

iteration iterations

Last year’s iteration honored artist Mary Corse and filmmaker Ryan Coogler, with Doja Cat as the musical guest, and raised $6.5 million, a new record.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

One iteration, released in early September, treated the scores as different.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Sources have said contracts under the previous iteration of LIV Golf will finish because of this court filing, with amounts owed to players and other creditors addressed through the court process.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Bilt, for its part, said the issue had to do with an earlier iteration of its credit cards that had stopped accepting customers.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

He’d lost count of how many times he’d had an iteration of this same dream, and while some of the details changed, the effect was the same.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Its Codex coding product and other business tools are now gaining ground, and it has released additional iterations of its cost-efficient models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Over the years, McDonald’s has tried multiple iterations for chicken and strips, opting for different seasoning, cuts and sauces, all with little success,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

But across all these iterations of Xavi, one thing remains the same — his commitment to chronicling relationships.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

And the latest rules have been arrived at after various previous iterations that worked in different ways, such as shutting the pit lane for specific periods.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

He smiled at the iterations of Aditya as the months went on.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon