Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

idempotent

/ˌaɪ.dəmˈpoʊ.tənt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.75 in modern English

Syllables: idem-po-tent
IPA: /ˌaɪ.dəmˈpoʊ.tənt/

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

(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.

adj

(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.

adj

(said of a binary operation) Such that all of the distinct elements it can operate on are idempotent (in the sense given just above).

adj

(said of an algebraic structure) Having an idempotent operation (in the sense given above).

noun

An idempotent element.

noun

An idempotent structure.

Example Sentences

"A projection operator is idempotent."
"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."
"Every finite semigroup has an idempotent element."
"Every group has a unique idempotent element: namely, its identity element."
"Since the AND logical operator is commutative, associative, and idempotent, it distributes with respect to itself."

Etymology

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌaɪ.dəmˈpoʊ.tənt/

Inflected Forms

idempotents (plural)

Derived Forms

idempotently idempotentness nonidempotent

Frequently Paired Words

idempotence nilpotent nullipotent unipotent involutory

Rhymes With

potent

Questions

How do you pronounce idempotent?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌaɪ.dəmˈpoʊ.tənt/.
What does idempotent mean?: (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.
Where does idempotent come from?: 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.

How to pronounce idempotent

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