Chomsky hierarchy

/ˈt͡ʃɒm.ski ˈhaɪ.(ə).ɹɑː(ɹ).ki/

noun

A containment hierarchy of classes of formal grammars. From least to most specialized, the classes are: recursively enumerable, context-sensitive, context-free, and regular.

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Meanings

nounChomsky hierarchy (plural Chomsky hierarchies)

plural Chomsky hierarchies

  1. computerA containment hierarchy of classes of formal grammars. From least to most specialized, the classes are: recursively enumerable, context-sensitive, context-free, and regular.

Origin

Described by linguist Noam Chomsky in 1956.

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Translations

Portuguese hierarquia de Chomsky
  • hierarquia de Chomskya containment hierarchy of classes of formal grammars
Cite this entry
APA

Chomsky hierarchy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chomsky%20hierarchy

MLA

“Chomsky hierarchy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chomsky%20hierarchy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Chomsky hierarchy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Chomsky%20hierarchy.

Source: Chomsky hierarchy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.