neural network

American  

[noor-uhl net-wurk, nyoor-uhl] / ˈnʊr əl ˈnɛtˌwɜrk, ˈnyʊr əl /

noun

1. any group of neurons that conduct impulses in a coordinated manner, as the assemblages of brain cells that record a visual stimulus.

2. Also called neural net.  Computers. a hardware or software system in which weighted connections between data nodes are refined to produce increasingly accurate results in information processing, as in pattern recognition or problem solving, with the goal of algorithmic computing that requires minimal human intervention.

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neural network British  

noun

1. an interconnected system of neurons, as in the brain or other parts of the nervous system

2. Also called: neural net.  an analogous network of electronic components, esp one in a computer designed to mimic the operation of the human brain

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Etymology

Origin of neural network

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

“We spent years developing the mathematical theory required to compress a neural network without losing its reasoning capabilities,” said Hassibi, chief executive of the venture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Humans drive with two cameras and a neural network.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 20, 2026

Its AI neural network learns from real-world experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

The heart's neural network, which is embedded in the superficial layers of the heart wall, has been considered a simple structure that relays the signals from the brain.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

Until the middle of the nineteenth century that thinking symbolized the prevailing scientific thought about the human neural network.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel