Parameter
/pəˈræmɪtər/noun
A parameter is a measurable factor or limit that defines or influences a system, process, or calculation.
Did you know?Parameter comes from Greek math language, where it originally meant a line or value used to *measure alongside* something else — a quiet reminder that words for logic often began as tools of precision, not magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
parámetron
“a line or quantity used for measuring alongside something else”
Late Greek
Greek
paramétrēs
“one who measures or estimates beside”
Late Latin
Latin
parameter
“a mathematical term adopted from Greek usage”
17th-18th Century
English
parameter
“a constant or limiting value in mathematics”
Modern English
English
parameter
“a measurable factor that defines a system or calculation”
Explore more surprising origins