optimization
op-ti-mi-ZAY-shun
/ˌɒptɪmaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The action of making the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
Implies a mathematical or systematic approach to finding the 'best' solution.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'optimus', meaning 'best'. It is the same root found in 'optimist' (someone who looks for the best in things).
Word relationships
- refinement: Refinement is about making something more elegant; optimization is about making it more efficient.
- wastage: The inefficient use of resources, the opposite of optimization.
Commonly confused with
- improvement: Improvement is making something better; optimization is making it the best it can be.
Word family
- optimize (verb): To make the best use of.
- optimal (adjective): Best or most favorable.
Collocations
- process optimization
- cost optimization
- search engine optimization
- network optimization
Example sentences
- "Optimization is the process of finding the best possible solution to a problem given a set of constraints." George Dantzig on linear programming.
Memory hook
Optimist + Action. An optimist believes in the best; optimization creates the best. Optimization = Optimal Action.
When not to use
Don't use for simply 'improving' something slightly; use for making it as perfect as possible within constraints.
Fun facts
- The concept of optimization was revolutionized by the development of calculus by Newton and Leibniz.
Related words
Explore more words
optimize, efficiency, efficient, pareto-optimal, deploy, effective
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