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
algebraist
ˈal-jə-ˌbrā-ist
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This was the woman who was the backbone of their family, who had managed properties and paid bills between her two parents growing up, who had taught calculus and algebra for 40 years. 
Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2022 One of its top features is its CAS (computer algebra system) for understanding and solving more complex equations. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 26 July 2022 With Alabama’s new math standards, students can take algebra in the seventh grade. al, 6 July 2022 Without modern symbolic algebra, mathematicians would reason geometrically. Quanta Magazine, 30 June 2022 This is the field of algebraic topology, which studies shapes by translating each space into a piece of algebra. Eugenia Cheng, WSJ, 30 June 2022 One of the titans of Number Theory—the study of natural numbers and their properties—is Diophantus of Alexandria, an ancient Greek mathematician who still pops up in algebra textbooks today. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 7 July 2022 The high school algebra teacher at Whiteland worked a girls basketball regional championship last weekend. Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Feb. 2022 Her granddaughter is in a rigorous algebra class, and there’s an archery club. Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022 See More
Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2022 One of its top features is its CAS (computer algebra system) for understanding and solving more complex equations. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 26 July 2022 With Alabama’s new math standards, students can take algebra in the seventh grade. al, 6 July 2022 Without modern symbolic algebra, mathematicians would reason geometrically. Quanta Magazine, 30 June 2022 This is the field of algebraic topology, which studies shapes by translating each space into a piece of algebra. Eugenia Cheng, WSJ, 30 June 2022 One of the titans of Number Theory—the study of natural numbers and their properties—is Diophantus of Alexandria, an ancient Greek mathematician who still pops up in algebra textbooks today. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 7 July 2022 The high school algebra teacher at Whiteland worked a girls basketball regional championship last weekend. Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Feb. 2022 Her granddaughter is in a rigorous algebra class, and there’s an archery club. Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr, literally, the reduction
First Known Use
1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing algebra
Kids Definition
algebra
noun
al·ge·bra ˈal-jə-brə
: a branch of mathematics in which symbols (as letters and numbers) are combined according to the rules of arithmetic