Boolean

adjective

Bool·​ean ˈbü-lē-ən 

: of, relating to, or being a logical combinatorial system (such as Boolean algebra) that represents symbolically relationships (such as those implied by the logical operators AND, OR, and NOT) between entities (such as sets, propositions, or on-off computer circuit elements)

Boolean expression

Boolean search strategy for information retrieval

Examples of Boolean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Efforts were made on eBay using Boolean searches, a more refined method of combing through the virtual flea market, though none of the options would be able to reach Southern California in time. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025

All forms of classical computing, whether an abacus, a personal laptop, or a high-performance cluster of machines in a national security facility, follow what scholars call Boolean logic. —Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Typescript requires programmers to declare the type of each variable (floating point, integer, Boolean or other) before it’s used, increasing reliability. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2024

Boole, one of the great mathematicians, created Boolean algebra which laid the foundations for computer language and is this the structure around which scientists use machines to mimic and ‘improve’ on human behaviour. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

In chip design, such problems include optimizing the routing of interconnects within a core and Boolean circuit minimization, in which the challenge is to construct a circuit with the fewest gates and inputs to execute a function. —Somdeb Majumdar, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Nov. 2024

Computers that use Boolean logic—which trades energy for precision—and that separate memory and computing, appear to be very inefficient at truly emulating a brain. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 May 2017

Remember using Boolean search techniques for early web searches? —Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2024

In the mid-nineteenth century, a great-great-grandfather of Hinton’s, the English mathematician George Boole, developed the system of binary reasoning, now known as Boolean algebra, that is fundamental to all computing. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

George Boole †1864 English mathematician

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Boolean

• Boolean algebra

Rhymes for Boolean

• eon
• paean
• peon
• sheehan
• adlerian
• caesarian
• cyclopean
• empyrean
• euclidean
• european
• grammarian
• hercynian

Kids Definition

Boolean

adjective

Bool·​ean ˈbü-lē-ən 

: of, relating to, or being Boolean algebra