number cruncher

noun

1
: a computer that performs fast numerical calculations especially on large amounts of data
2
: a person concerned with numerical data (such as statistics)
number crunching noun

Examples of number cruncher in a Sentence

The number crunchers in Washington are expecting a budget surplus by the fall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Undefeated Oregon received top billing once again, delivered by the committee a few hours after Big Ten number crunchers ran through tiebreaker scenarios and realized the Ducks had clinched a spot in the conference title game no matter what happens between now and December. Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024 At least that's what a snapshot analysis by a leading Texas political number cruncher shows of the first few days of early voting for the March 5 primaries. John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Feb. 2024 Lichtman eschews the more defensible probabilistic forecasts like the ones from Nate Silver and other number crunchers. Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Bill McKibben October 2, 2024 7:16 AM EDT Climate change is in some ways a math problem, and Jesse Jenkins is among the wonkiest and most effective of the number crunchers trying to work out a solution. Bill McKibben, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for number cruncher 

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of number cruncher was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near number cruncher

Cite this Entry

“Number cruncher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/number%20cruncher. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

number cruncher

noun
number crunch·​er
-ˈkrən-chər
1
: a computer that performs fast numerical calculations especially on large amounts of data
2
: a person concerned with complex numerical data
number crunching noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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