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computational

/ˌkɒm.pjʊˈteɪ.ʃən.əl/
IELTSAcademic
adjective

Related to computers or to the use of computer methods to solve problems. It often describes work, models, or science that depend on calculation and programming.

  • She works on computational biology.
  • The model uses computational methods.
  • Computational power keeps increasing.

Adinary Nuance

Computational is more specific than "technical" and more formal than "computer-based." It usually describes methods, research, or tasks that use computing power, not just anything done on a computer. Writers choose it when they mean calculation, algorithms, or computer science work.

In other languages

Vietnamese
thuộc tính toán
Spanish
computacional
Chinese
计算的
Japanese
計算の
Korean
계산의

Etymology

Computational comes from compute, which entered English from Latin computare, meaning “to calculate.” The adjective became common in the 20th century with the growth of computers.

Common phrases

computational methodscomputational powercomputational biologycomputational linguistics

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is computational the same as computer-related?
Often yes, but computational is more formal and usually refers to methods, models, or problem-solving.
Can I use computational in academic writing?
Yes. It is common in science, research, and academic English.
What is the difference between computational and computerized?
Computational means using calculation or computer methods. Computerized means changed or controlled by a computer.