algebra
noun
al·ge·bra
ˈal-jə-brə 
1
: a generalization of arithmetic in which letters representing numbers are combined according to the rules of arithmetic
2
: any of various systems or branches of mathematics or logic concerned with the properties and relationships of abstract entities (such as complex numbers, matrices, sets, vectors, groups, rings, or fields) manipulated in symbolic form under operations often analogous to those of arithmetic compare boolean algebra
Examples of algebra in a Sentence
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This is a small example where setting up the algebra is harder than just doing the puzzle.
—
Courtney Gibbons, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Most people’s experiences with polynomial equations don’t extend much further than high school algebra and the quadratic formula.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Problems about finding optimal solutions to functions, for instance, were once a more central part of pure math, deeply intertwined with calculus, algebra and other fields.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Chiang’s storytelling is rooted in age-old tropes and references — the Old Testament, golems, Victoriana, high school algebra.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
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Courtney Gibbons, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Most people’s experiences with polynomial equations don’t extend much further than high school algebra and the quadratic formula.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Problems about finding optimal solutions to functions, for instance, were once a more central part of pure math, deeply intertwined with calculus, algebra and other fields.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Chiang’s storytelling is rooted in age-old tropes and references — the Old Testament, golems, Victoriana, high school algebra.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for algebra
Cite this Entry
“Algebra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/algebra. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
algebra
noun
al·ge·bra
ˈal-jə-brə
: a branch of mathematics that uses letters to represent numbers and that studies numbers and the operations (as multiplication and addition) that are used on them
algebraic
adjective
ˌal-jə-ˈbrā-ik
algebraically
adverb
-ˈbrā-ə-k(ə-)lē
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