Phrase guide

Levenshtein distance

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The number of edits (replacements, deletions and insertions) required to change one string into another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: computer, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, science, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Levenshtein + distance, after the Russian mathematician Vladimir Levenshtein.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: Levenshteinova vzdálenost — (computer science) the number of edits required to change one string into another
  • Polish: odległość Levenshteina — (computer science) the number of edits required to change one string into another