random number

[ ran-duhm nuhm-ber ]

noun

, Statistics.

1. a number chosen by a random sampling, as from a table random number table or produced by a random number generator.

Word History and Origins

Origin of random number¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

All except 255, “FF” — as though someone was generating random numbers less than 255, forgetting that 255 should be a permissible value.

From Washington Post

Lasers can generate random number sequences thanks to tiny, naturally occurring fluctuations in the light’s frequency over time.

From Science News

Computer simulations of complex systems, such as Earth’s climate or the stock market, also require many random numbers to properly capture chance occurrences that happen in real life.

From Science News

Most people expect alternating, evenly spaced random numbers.

From Science News For Students

This can be achieved by running an algorithm that can help you to link out to a random number of internal pages.

From Search Engine Watch

Much is made of Noetic Science and the important experiments with the Random Number Generators.

From The Daily Beast