Meanings
- not comparablecomputing(said of a function) Such that, when performed multiple times on the same subject, it has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed.
A projection operator is idempotent.
1 more example
An HTTP request using the PUT verb should be idempotent, so that it can be sent to the server any number of times with the same end result.
- not comparablemathematics(said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation, such as a group or semigroup) Such that, when it operates on itself, the result is equal to itself.
Every finite semigroup has an idempotent element.
1 more example
Every group has a unique idempotent element: namely, its identity element.
- not comparablemathematics(said of a binary operation) Such that all of the distinct elements it can operate on are idempotent (in the sense given just above).
Since the AND logical operator is commutative, associative, and idempotent, it distributes with respect to itself.
- not comparablemathematics(said of an algebraic structure) Having an idempotent operation (in the sense given above).
plural idempotents
- mathematicsAn idempotent element.
- mathematicsAn idempotent structure.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveunchanged in value following multiplication by itself
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From Latin roots idem (“same”) + potent (“having power”), thus “having the same power”. Coined in 1870 by American mathematician Benjamin Peirce in the context of algebra, later generalized to computer science.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 冪等 /幂等, 冪等 /幂等
- 冪等 /幂等 (mìděng)mathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
- 冪等 /幂等 (mìděng)mathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
Czech idempotentní
- idempotentnímathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Danish idempotent
- idempotentmathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Esperanto idempotento, idempotento
- idempotentomathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
- idempotentomathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
Finnish idempotentti, idempotentti
- idempotenttimathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
- idempotenttimathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
- idempotenttiSaid of a binary operation: that all of the distinct elements it can operate on are idempotent
French idempotent
- idempotentmathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
German idempotent
- idempotentmathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Greek ταυτοδύναμος
- ταυτοδύναμος (taftodýnamos)mathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
Icelandic sjálfvalda
- sjálfvaldamathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Japanese 冪等
- 冪等 (bekitō)mathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Polish idempotentny, idempotentny
- idempotentnymathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
- idempotentnymathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
- idempotentnySaid of a binary operation: that all of the distinct elements it can operate on are idempotent
Russian идемпоте́нтный
- идемпоте́нтный (idempoténtnyj)mathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Spanish idempotente
- idempotentemathematics: Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation: that when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself
Swedish idempotent
- idempotentmathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Turkish idempotent
- idempotentmathematics: an action which, when performed multiple time, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with idempotent
All rhymes →Cite this entry
idempotent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idempotent
“idempotent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idempotent. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “idempotent,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idempotent.
Source: idempotent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.