computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

-pyü-

1

a

: the act or action of computing : calculation

b

: the use or operation of a computer

2

: a system of reckoning

3

: an amount computed

computational

ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

-pyü-

adjective

computationally adverb

Synonyms

• arithmetic
• calculation
• calculus
• ciphering
• figures
• figuring
• math
• mathematics
• number crunching
• numbers
• reckoning

Examples of computation in a Sentence

methods used for the computation of taxes

The solution required a series of computations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reliance on decentralized network means better performance and reduced latency, as computations happen closer to end-users. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

By contrast, following Google’s announcement of its Willow chip in early December 2024, its head of Quantum AI stated that Willow lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes. —Pravir Malik, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

This tolerance for errors before a qubit’s value changes presents a new way to perform quantum computations, says Morello. —IEEE Spectrum, 5 Feb. 2025

These results demonstrated that there are fundamental limits to what proof and computation are capable of. —Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for computation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or action of computing : calculation

2

: a system of calculating especially by mathematical means

3

: an amount computed

computational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective