softmax

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noun

A generalization of the logistic function that "squashes" a K-dimensional vector mathbf z of arbitrary real values to a K-dimensional vector σ( mathbf z) of real values in the range (0, 1).

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Meanings

softmax1

nounsoftmax (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemathematicsA generalization of the logistic function that "squashes" a K-dimensional vector mathbf z of arbitrary real values to a K-dimensional vector σ( mathbf z) of real values in the range (0, 1).

softmax2

verbsoftmax (third-person singular simple present softmaxes, present participle softmaxing, simple past and past participle softmaxed)

present singular third person softmaxes · participle present softmaxing · participle past softmaxed · past softmaxed

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of softmaxx.

Origin

softmax · noun

Coined by John S. Bridle in 1989, on the grounds of the function being "a differentiable generalisation of the 'winner-take-all' operation of picking the maximum value".

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softmax · verb

From soft + -max.

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Cite this entry
APA

softmax. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softmax

MLA

“softmax.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softmax. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “softmax,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/softmax.

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