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Glite Dictionary
🔄 A complete change 🔢 An arrangement 🔁 A substitution
permutation

permutation

10 7.8
A complete change in how something looks or works
  • noun
  • /ˌpɜr.mjuˈteɪ.ʃən/
  • Formal
: transformación
  • Gary Phillips writes tales of chicanery and malfeasance in various permutations, including novels.

And this is a museum dedicated to Fresh Thought in all of its permutations.

Examples

  • If the industry does not adopt the technology that the fans want, whatever permutation of the industry exists will fail.

    Blog text (25)

  • In Vermont, the human-weed relationship that has shifted from coadjuvancy to antagonism and then to a gentle complicity reflects a larger permutation in the environmental history of northeastern North America.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Indeed, the permutation of American public opinion toward China has been a protracted process stretching over a span of nearly two decades.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The Atlas of the World is updated every year; such are the changes and permutations that take place on our home planet.

    Blog text (29)

  • The ideological permutations are nearly endless.

    Academic text (2003)

  • True originality is almost always an addition to the realm of the previously conceivable, not a mere permutation of possibilities already in hand.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The magician amazed the audience with a stunning permutation of classic card tricks, showcasing his creativity.

  • The artist's latest painting is a vivid permutation of colors that transforms the mood of the room.

  • Scientists study every permutation of genetic sequences to understand the evolution of various species.

Synonyms

rearrangement
vspermutation
4 3.4

A change in the order or position of things

affects fundamental character or condition as a full transformation
transposition
vspermutation
2 7.3

Changing the order or position of things, for example swapping letters

involves a complete change in character, condition, or whole arrangement
reordering
vspermutation
1 3.2

To put things in a different order

changes character or condition of the whole thing rather than only order
reordination
vspermutation
8.7

Putting things back in the correct order

creates a complete change rather than returning things to original order

Antonyms

stagnation
1 6.5

Still water that does not move in pipes or lakes, causing poor quality

How Complete

permutation
  • Formal
10 7.8
alteration
55 3.3
modification
144 3.9

Surface Forms

permutation singular
permutations plural

Morphology

permutation = permute (semi-transparent) = permute + ation

The noun is formed by adding '-ation' to 'permute', but the sense meaning a broad or complete change extends beyond the more specific sense 'to change order', making the relation only partially predictable.

Etymology

The word permutation comes from the Latin parts per- 'completely' and mutare 'to change'. So it originally meant a full change or exchange, which is why we use it for a complete change in the character or condition of something.