random number generator

American  

[ran-duhm nuhm-ber jen-uh--rey-ter] / ˈræn dəm ˈnʌm bər ˌdʒɛn ə ˌreɪ tər /

noun

Computers.

1. a computer algorithm that generates a random or pseudorandom number or symbol. RNG

---

Etymology

Origin of random number generator

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

The judge found that the result from the random number generator was different from the result on screen due to human error in mapping the software, which had affected 14 plays over 48 days.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025

Was it all a hoax, generated by charlatans sitting down with a list of medical conditions and a random number generator?

From New York Times • Nov. 6, 2021

A random number generator is used to select a student from the alphabetical listing of all high school students in the fall semester.

From Textbooks • Mar. 27, 2020

Then use a random number generator or table of random number to generate 30 numbers between 1 and 200, and select the students matching the random numbers.

From Textbooks • Sep. 19, 2013

Apparently, Angband's random number generator occasionally gets locked in a repetition, so you get something with a 3% chance happening 8 times in a row.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.