big O notation

noun

A particular notation, useful in the analysis of algorithms, which describes the limiting behavior of a function when the argument tends towards a particular value or infinity, usually in terms of simpler functions.

OriginGerman Ordnung →
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Meanings

nounbig O notation (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingA particular notation, useful in the analysis of algorithms, which describes the limiting behavior of a function when the argument tends towards a particular value or infinity, usually in terms of simpler functions.

Origin

  1. GermanOrdnung
  2. Englishbig O notation

From the capital letter O (short for order, originally German Ordnung) used in the notation.

More words from German

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Cite this entry
APA

big O notation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20O%20notation

MLA

“big O notation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20O%20notation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “big O notation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20O%20notation.

Source: big O notation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.