Heuristic Meaning
/hjuˈɹɪstɪk/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjThat employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect; either not following or derived from any theory, or based on an advisedly oversimplified one.
adjThat provides a useful, but not optimal, solution to a problem. Such algorithms are typically employed either because the only known algorithms that provide optimal solutions use too much time or resources, or else because there is no known algorithm that provides an optimal solution.
Sentence Examples
I don't think that heuristic will work.
It's a heuristic solution.
Tom's approach to navigating corn mazes is heuristic.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher used a ____ approach to help students discover rules on their own.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ approach is a practical method that is not guaranteed to be optimal but is sufficient.
Word Origin & History
Irregular formation from Ancient Greek εὑρίσκω (heurískō, “I find, discover”) (compare the proper Greek term εὑρετικός (heuretikós)).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""The heuristic appraisal is the 'identification and evaluation of hints and clues that can provide direction to inquiry in the sometimes large gap between the extremes of complete knowledge and complete ignorance'”."
— 2015, Emiliano Ippoliti, Thomas Nickles, Heuristic Reasoning:
"If a heuristic algorithm works for most of the input data or its maximum percentage error is tolerable, we may prefer the heuristic algorithm to an optimum algorithm that requires a long time."
— 2002, Te Chiang Hu, Man-tak Shing, Combinatorial Algorithms:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher used a ____ approach to help students discover rules on their own.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ approach is a practical method that is not guaranteed to be optimal but is sufficient.