noun · 8 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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UK:/ˌpɜː.mjʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
UK:[ˌpɜː.mjʊˈteɪ.ʃn̩]
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˌpɝ.mjʊˈteɪ.ʃ(ə)n/
Australian:/ˌpɜː.mjʉˈtæɪ.ʃən/
Australian:[ˌpɜː.mjʉˈtæɪ.ʃn̩]
BrisbaneRecorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:P ER2 M Y UW0 T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
One of the ways something exists, or the ways a set of objects can be ordered.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Which permutation for completing our agenda items makes the most sense?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A one-to-one mapping from a finite set to itself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: mathematics, sciences
Examples
This permutation takes each element to the one following it, with the last mapped back to the first.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An ordering of a finite set of distinct elements.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: combinatorics, mathematics, sciences
Examples
There are six permutations of three elements, e.g. {abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, cba}.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A transformation of a set's prime form, by applying one or more of certain operations, specifically, transposition, inversion, and retrograde.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
act of changing the lineal order of objects in a group
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: reordering
6
noun
Meaning 6
complete change in character or condition- Henry Miller
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the permutations...taking place in the physical world
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: transformation, translation
7
noun
Meaning 7
the act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Middle English permutacioun, permutacyoun, from Old French permutacïon, promutatïon and Medieval Latin permūtātiōnem, accusative of permūtātiō. Morphologically permute + -ation.
Across languages
Translations
40 source translations are retained for this English entry.