idempotent

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adjective

idem·​po·​tent ˈī-dəm-ˌpō-tᵊnt How to pronounce idempotent (audio)
: relating to or being a mathematical quantity which when applied to itself under a given binary operation (such as multiplication) equals itself
also : relating to or being an operation under which a mathematical quantity is idempotent

idempotent

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noun

plural idempotents
: a mathematical quantity which when applied to itself under a given binary operation (such as multiplication) equals itself
also : an operation under which a mathematical quantity is idempotent

Examples of idempotent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Design services to be idempotent and stateless, decoupling state to enhance resilience and scalability. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Additionally, ensure that your API is idempotent, meaning that repeating a specific operation produces the same result, whether the request is made once or multiple times. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin idem same + potent-, potens having power — more at potent

First Known Use

Adjective

1870, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of idempotent was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near idempotent

Cite this Entry

“Idempotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idempotent. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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