What does palindrome mean?
A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sequence of characters that reads the same backward as forward. This property makes palindromes interesting and useful in wordplay, puzzles, and coding theory. Palindromes can be found in single words, such as 'madam' or 'dad', or in longer phrases, like 'a man, a plan, a canal, Panama!'. The term is often used to describe clever uses of language and symmetry. Palindromes have been studied for their aesthetic and mathematical properties. They are a popular topic in recreational mathematics and linguistics. The concept of palindromes can also be applied to numbers and other sequences.
nounA palindrome is a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward.
- A word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward.
- A sequence of characters that reads the same backward as forward.
"The word 'madam' is a classic example of a palindrome."
"The palindrome 'a man, a plan, a canal, Panama!' is often cited as an example."
"The programmer wrote a function to check if a given string was a palindrome."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple palindromes.
"The book contains a collection of interesting palindromes."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of palindrome
The word palindrome comes from the Greek words 'pali' (again) and 'dromos' (running), literally meaning 'running back again'. The term was coined by Henry Peacham, an English poet and scholar, in 1638. Palindromes have been a subject of interest in language and mathematics for centuries.
How palindrome is actually used
The term palindrome is often used in wordplay and puzzles. It can also refer to numerical palindromes, such as 121 or 12321.