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

And if the computation continued forever, the material had no gap. —Charlie Wood, Wired News, 6 Apr. 2025

Those facilities are crucial to powering the billions of computations that make artificial intelligence possible. —Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Other options give up on silicon entirely and perform the relevant computation in a form of phase change memory. —ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025

The chips deliver up to 1,000 trillion operations per second of high-performance computation, GM said, which can speed the development and deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies. —Jackie Charniga, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 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