notation

noun

no·​ta·​tion nō-ˈtā-shən 

1

: annotation, note

2

a

: the act, process, method, or an instance of representing by a system or set of marks, signs, figures, or characters

b

: a system of characters, symbols, or abbreviated expressions used in an art or science or in mathematics or logic to express technical facts or quantities

notational

nō-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of notation

• note
• memo

Examples of notation in a Sentence

a mathematical notation for computer programming

he had scribbled his notation so quickly I couldn't read it

Recent Examples on the Web

The story starts not with heat but with cold, in a remarkable moment of emotional notation. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026

Envisioning sound as a multisensory medium, Kim frequently incorporates infographics, musical notation, and her own graphic lexicon in works that highlight the experiences of deaf people in a world that prioritizes spoken communication. — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Sep. 2026

This asterisk notation is a result of strict data suppression rules enforced by NCHS for protecting the confidentiality of the decedent. — Denys T. Lau, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026

That notation is usually where an insurer’s argument about your damages begins. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin notation-, notatio, from notare to note

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing notation

• positional notation
• postfix notation
• reverse Polish notation
• scientific notation

Rhymes for notation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

notation

noun

no·​ta·​tion nō-ˈtā-shən 

1

: note entry 2 sense 3a

make notations on a paper

2

: the act of noting

3

: a system of marks, signs, figures, or characters used to give specified information

musical notation

scientific notation

notational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective