Meanings
logistic1
- not comparablemathematicsRelating to symbolic logic.
- not comparablemathematicsRelating to the logistic function.
- not comparableobsoletemathematicsUsing sexagesimal fractions, especially in arithmetic or logarithms.
- not comparableobsoletemathematicsRelating to basic arithmetic.
If we compare the calculus of a triangle, by the logistic logarithms …
1730 July, J. P. Biester, “Decreasing Logarithms”, in The Present State of the Republick of Letters, volume 6, page 103 - not comparableobsoletemathematicsSkilled in calculating.
- not comparableobsoletemathematicsProportional.
plural logistics
- countablemathematicsA logistic function or graph of a logistic curve.
- obsoleteuncountablemathematicsThe art of calculation.
- obsoleteuncountablemathematicsSexagesimal arithmetic.
logistic2
- not comparableoperationsRelating to logistics.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveof or relating to logistics
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
logistic · adjective, noun
- Ancient Greekλογιστικός“practiced in arithmetic; rational”
- Frenchlogistique
- Englishlogistic
From French logistique, from Ancient Greek λογιστικός (logistikós, “practiced in arithmetic; rational”), from λογίζομαι (logízomai, “I reason, I calculate”), from λόγος (lógos, “reason, computation”), whence English logos, logic, logarithm, etc.; modern mathematical use influenced by related logarithmic. Sense of “logistic function” by Pierre François Verhulst (1845) in French, then borrowed into English. Verhulst does not explain his choice of naming, but he contrasts it with the logarithmic curve (also from λόγος (lógos)), and it is presumably by analogy with arithmetic and geometric (other divisions of mathematics), as his discussion of arithmetic growth and geometric growth precede his discussion of logistic growth. The term logistic and logistical also found occasional mathematical use in English prior to 1800, from the same Greek origin.
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →logistic · adjective
- Frenchlogistique
- Englishlogistic
From French logistique, from loger (“to lodge”) or logis (“lodging place”).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مَنْطِقِيّ رَمْزِيّ
- مَنْطِقِيّ رَمْزِيّ (manṭiqiyy ramziyy)mathematics: relating to symbolic logic
Catalan logístic, logístic
- logísticmathematics: relating to symbolic logic
- logísticstatistics: relating to the logistic function
- logísticrelating to logistics
Dutch logistisch, logistisch
- logistischmathematics: relating to symbolic logic
- logistischstatistics: relating to the logistic function
- logistiekrelating to logistics
French logistique, logistique
- logistiquemathematics: relating to symbolic logic
- logistiquestatistics: relating to the logistic function
- logistiquemathematics: logistic function
- logistiquerelating to logistics
Greek λογιστικός
- λογιστικός (logistikós)relating to logistics
Italian logistico
- logisticorelating to logistics
Polish logistyczny, logistyczny
- logistycznymathematics: relating to symbolic logic
- logistycznystatistics: relating to the logistic function
- funkcja logistycznamathematics: logistic function
- logistycznyrelating to logistics
Portuguese logístico
- logísticorelating to logistics
Romanian logistic
- logisticrelating to logistics
Spanish logístico
- logísticorelating to logistics
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
logistic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/logistic
“logistic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/logistic. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “logistic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/logistic.
Source: logistic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.