permutation
noun
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Permutation has not changed all that much since it was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French as permutacioun, meaning "exchange, transformation." Permutacioun traces back to the Latin verb permutare, meaning "to change thoroughly, exchange," and ultimately derives from the Latin mutare, "to change." Other descendants of mutare in English include commute, mutant, and mutual. Permutation also has a specific application in the field of mathematics relating to the ordering of a given set of objects. For example, permutations of items a, b, and c are abc, acb, bac, etc.
Examples of permutation in a Sentence
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2024
Race, in all its permutations, is still the dilemma.
—David Maraniss, Washington Post, 18 July 2024
Stages start to feature different permutations and obstacles to keep track of, such as dark caves with lanterns that need to be lit up, to ensure villagers can see enemies and attack them.
—Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024
And with Erik Spoelstra an Olympic assistant coach with Team USA, perhaps these coming weeks will further open his eyes to such a permutation.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for permutation 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permutation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near permutation
Cite this Entry
“Permutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permutation. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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permutation
noun
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