Binomial
/baɪˈnoʊmiəl/noun
A mathematical expression with two terms, or more broadly, a name made of two parts.
Did you know?The first element comes from Latin bi- (“two”), while the second ultimately traces back to Greek nomos/nemein, a root tied to “sharing” and “assigning,” which is why the same ancient family also gave us names like nomad and economy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nem-
“to assign, allot, distribute”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nemein / nomos
“to distribute; custom, law, assigned pasture”
Latin
Latin
bi- + nomen
“two + name”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
binomius
“having two names”
17th Century
English
binomial
“having two names or terms; in mathematics, a quantity of two terms”