What does iteration mean?
Iteration means the act of repeating a process, either as a series of similar attempts or as one pass through a larger cycle. It commonly suggests that each repetition has a purpose: a result may be checked, adjusted, tested, or improved before the next attempt. In mathematics and computing, an iteration is a complete step in a repeated procedure, such as a numerical method that approaches an answer through successive calculations. Designers and engineers use “iteration” to describe cycles of prototyping and revision, while software developers may call an updated release an iteration. The word is more formal than “repeat” and often implies a deliberate, structured process. It can therefore carry a neutral sense of orderly progress or a slightly negative suggestion that the same problem is being approached repeatedly without resolution. Outside technical fields, it often describes the gradual refinement of an idea, argument, plan, or creative work through successive versions.
nounAn act of repeating or doing something, especially one in a series of successive attempts. In mathematics and computing, an iteration is one complete pass through a process or set of calculations.
- A repeated act or a single repetition in a series of acts.
- A complete cycle or round in a process.
- One successive stage in a mathematical, computational, or design procedure.
- A version produced through repeated revision, especially in software design.
"The design was refined through repeated iteration until every detail felt right."
"Each iteration of the model brought the predicted results closer to the observed data."
"The committee's final proposal was the product of many months of iteration and negotiation."
The plural is used for separate attempts, passes, stages, or versions within a repeated process.
"The prototype underwent numerous iterations before it was ready for production."
Iteration turns “again” into a method: some of the most precise results in science and design emerge through one careful pass at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does iteration come from?
Iteration entered English during the Middle English period through Old French from Latin iterationem, a noun formed from iterare, “to pass again.” The Latin verb derives from iterum, an adverb meaning “again,” while iter, a related form, also supplied words connected with a journey or way. Modern cognates include iterate, reiterate, itinerant, itinerary, and the uncommon verb itinerate.
Related word forms
How iteration is actually used
The word is formal and often implies a structured series of repetitions, each potentially informing or improving the next. It is especially common in mathematics, computing, engineering, design, and the development of policy.