algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

1

: a generalization of arithmetic in which letters representing numbers are combined according to the rules of arithmetic

2

: any of various systems or branches of mathematics or logic concerned with the properties and relationships of abstract entities (such as complex numbers, matrices, sets, vectors, groups, rings, or fields) manipulated in symbolic form under operations often analogous to those of arithmetic compare boolean algebra

algebraist

ˈal-jə-ˌbrā-ist 

noun

Examples of algebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Enlarge / Math for English Majors talks about numbers as nouns, verbs as calculations, and algebra as grammar. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2024

Remarkably, the rudimentary tools that the ancient Greeks used to draw their geometric diagrams perfectly match the natural operations of modern-day algebra: addition (+), subtraction (–), multiplication (x), division (/) and taking square roots (√). —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 12 Sep. 2024

Figuring out the possible structures of groups has been one of the central projects of algebra over the last century. —Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 6 Sep. 2024

An Apalachee High School student wrote a rap song in memory of his algebra teacher Cristina Irimie, one of four people killed in the Sept. 4 mass shooting. —Axios Atlanta, Axios, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr, literally, the reduction

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing algebra

• abstract algebra
• Boolean algebra
• linear algebra

Kids Definition

algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

: a branch of mathematics that uses letters to represent numbers and that studies numbers and the operations (as multiplication and addition) that are used on them

algebraic

ˌal-jə-ˈbrā-ik

adjective

algebraically

-ˈbrā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb