parameter

[puh-ram-i-ter]

noun

1. Mathematics.

   1. a constant or variable term in a function that determines the specific form of the function but not its general nature, as a in f (x ) = ax, where a determines only the slope of the line described by f (x ).

   2. one of the independent variables in a set of parametric equations.

2. Statistics.,  a variable entering into the mathematical form of any distribution such that the possible values of the variable correspond to different distributions.

3. Computers.,  a variable that must be given a specific value during the execution of a program or of a procedure within a program.

4. Usually parameters. limits or boundaries; guidelines.

   the basic parameters of our foreign policy.

5. characteristic or factor; aspect; element.

   a useful parameter for judging long-term success.

parameter

/ pəˈræmɪtə, ˌpærəˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

1. one of a number of auxiliary variables in terms of which all the variables in an implicit functional relationship can be explicitly expressed See parametric equations

2. a variable whose behaviour is not being considered and which may for present purposes be regarded as a constant, as y in the partial derivative ∂f( x,y )/∂ x

3. statistics a characteristic of the distribution of a population, such as its mean, as distinct from that of a sample Compare statistic

4. informal,  any constant or limiting factor

   a designer must work within the parameters of budget and practicality

parameter

1. A quantity or number on which some other quantity or number depends. An informal example is, “Depending on the traffic, it takes me between twenty minutes and an hour to drive to work”; here, “traffic” is the parameter that determines the time it takes to get to work. In statistics, a parameter is an unknown characteristic of a population — for example, the number of women in a particular precinct who will vote Democratic.

Usage

Some object strongly to the use of parameter in these newer senses. Nevertheless, the criticized uses are now well established both in educated speech and in edited writing.

The term is often mistakenly used to refer to the limits of possible values a variable can have because of confusion with the word perimeter.

Other Word Forms

• parametric adjective
• parametrical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parameter¹

From the New Latin word parametrum, dating back to 1650–60; para- ¹, -meter

Word History and Origins

Origin of parameter¹

C17: from New Latin; see _para- ¹ , _-meter

Example Sentences

Not all tax parameters get inflation adjustments, although the new tax law added some more to the mix.

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Make programming “playgrounds” where model parameters can be tweaked.

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That’s because humans only serve in a kind of supervisory role, setting the trading parameters and then letting the algorithms do the buying and selling at computer speeds.

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What emerges, then, is a story without history, within simplified parameters, meant to convey an embattled neighborhood without mentioning certain neighbors, free of any inconvenient perspectives.

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Sennish said that the crew happily explained the parameters of their work.

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Related Words

• criterion 
• framework 
• guideline 
• restriction 
• specification