What does permuted mean?
Permuted means that the order of elements in a sequence or arrangement has been changed. The word is the past tense and past participle of permute and is common in mathematics, computing, statistics, and experimental design. For example, a program may permute data to reduce the influence of order, or a researcher may permute the order of questions to make a questionnaire less predictable. In its technical adjective use, “permuted” describes a sequence or array whose elements have been rearranged. The term is precise and formal, but it is also understood in ordinary contexts involving deliberate reordering. It should not be used to mean simply that something has been moved without its arrangement being fundamentally changed.
To rearrange the elements of a sequence, collection, or arrangement, especially in a systematic or mathematical way.
"The software permuted the records before displaying them."
The past tense and past participle form of permute. It is especially common in technical and scientific writing.
Having had the order of elements changed or rearranged.
"The algorithm produced a permuted array with a fixed number of inversions."
This adjective use is chiefly technical, especially in mathematics, computing, and statistics.
In mathematics, a permuted sequence has been rearranged into a new order, while the full set of possible rearrangements forms a permutation group.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does permuted come from?
The word comes from the Latin verb permutare, meaning “to change” or “exchange,” especially to exchange the order of things. English borrowed the related noun permutation and the verb permute, with the form permuted developing as the usual past tense and participle. Related mathematical terms include permutational and permutative.
Related word forms
How permuted is actually used
This is the past tense and past participle of permute. As an adjective, it is mainly used in technical mathematical and computing contexts.