# computational

/ˌkɑmpjuˈteɪʃənəɫ/ (US) · /kˌɒmpjuːtˈeɪʃənəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/computational
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

relating to the use of computers or the way they process information. You use this to describe tasks that involve complex math or data that a computer can handle.

For teachers: relating to or using computers, especially regarding the mathematical process of calculation. Often describes methods, models, or linguistics that rely on algorithmic processing.

## Examples

- The team needs more computational power to run the simulation.
- Computational linguistics allows researchers to analyze millions of sentences to find patterns in how language changes over time.
- The breakthrough in drug discovery was largely due to new computational models that can predict how different molecules will interact before any physical experiments begin.

## Usage notes

- Typically precedes the noun it modifies; frequently collocates with 'power', 'methods', or 'complexity'.

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