pseudocode

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noun

A description of a computer programming algorithm that uses the structural conventions of programming languages but omits detailed subroutines or language-specific syntax.

OriginEnglish code ← Middle English code ← Old French code →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounpseudocode (countable and uncountable, plural pseudocodes)

plural pseudocodes

  1. countableuncountablecomputingA description of a computer programming algorithm that uses the structural conventions of programming languages but omits detailed subroutines or language-specific syntax.

    Think of pseudocode as a step-by-step verbal outline of your code that you can later transcribe into a programming language.

    2026 May 21 (last accessed), Nels Frazier, “How to Write Pseudocode”, in University of Wyoming, archived from the original on 21 May 2026, page 1
    1 more example

    In general the vocabulary used in the pseudocode should be the vocabulary of the problem domain, not of the implementation domain. The pseudocode is a narrative for someone who knows the requirements (problem domain) and is trying to learn how the solution is organized.

    2003 December 2, John Dalbey, “PSEUDOCODE STANDARD”, in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2026
  2. countableuncountablecomputingAny format or language that resembles a programming language but is not.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekψεύδω (pseúdō)
  2. Ancient Greekψευδής (pseudḗs)
  3. Middle Englishpseudo-
  4. Englishpseudo-
  5. Latincaudex
  6. Latincōdex
  7. Old Frenchcode
  8. Middle Englishcode
  9. Englishcode
  10. Englishpseudocode

From pseudo- + code.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque sasikode
  • sasikodedescription of a computer programming algorithm
Chinese Mandarin 偽代碼 /伪代码, 虛擬代碼 /虚拟代码
  • 偽代碼 /伪代码 (wěidàimǎ)description of a computer programming algorithm
  • 虛擬代碼 /虚拟代码 (xūnǐ dàimǎ)description of a computer programming algorithm
Czech pseudokód
  • pseudokóddescription of a computer programming algorithm
Dutch pseudocode
  • pseudocodedescription of a computer programming algorithm
Finnish pseudokoodi
  • pseudokoodidescription of a computer programming algorithm
French pseudo-code
  • pseudo-codedescription of a computer programming algorithm
German Pseudocode
  • Pseudocodedescription of a computer programming algorithm
Hungarian pszeudokód
  • pszeudokóddescription of a computer programming algorithm
Italian pseudocodice
  • pseudocodicedescription of a computer programming algorithm
Japanese 擬似コード
  • 擬似コード (giji-kōdo)description of a computer programming algorithm
Korean 의사코드, 슈도코드
  • 의사코드 (uisakodeu)description of a computer programming algorithm
  • 슈도코드 (syudokodeu)description of a computer programming algorithm
Polish pseudokod
  • pseudokoddescription of a computer programming algorithm
Portuguese pseudocódigo
  • pseudocódigodescription of a computer programming algorithm
Romanian pseudocod
  • pseudocoddescription of a computer programming algorithm
Russian псевдоко́д
  • псевдоко́д (psevdokód)description of a computer programming algorithm
Spanish pseudocódigo
  • pseudocódigodescription of a computer programming algorithm
Swedish pseudokod
  • pseudokoddescription of a computer programming algorithm
Cite this entry
APA

pseudocode. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudocode

MLA

“pseudocode.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudocode. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pseudocode,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudocode.

Source: pseudocode on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.