A polynomial is a mathematical expression made by adding or subtracting terms that each have a number and a variable raised to a whole-number power, like 3x² − 2x + 5. It’s a basic building block in algebra and calculus.
From *poly-* “many” and *nomial* from Latin *nomen* “name,” via *binomial* and *trinomial*. It originally meant an expression with many terms or “names.”
Try Another Word