heuristic
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a simple rule or mental shortcut that helps you make a decision quickly when you do not have all the facts.
n.a cognitive shortcut or 'rule of thumb' used to simplify complex decision-making processes.
Simple“Using the price of a product as a heuristic for its quality is common but not always accurate.”
In context“The availability heuristic often leads people to overestimate the probability of rare events simply because they are more memorable.”
UsageOften used in psychology and behavioral economics to describe human bias.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a way for a computer to find a solution to a hard problem quickly by using a 'best guess' instead of checking every option.
n.a technique designed for solving a problem more quickly when classic methods are too slow, or for finding an approximate solution when classic methods fail.
Simple“The software uses a heuristic to find the fastest route through the city traffic.”
In context“Engineers implemented a greedy heuristic to provide a near-optimal solution for the traveling salesman problem within a reasonable timeframe.”
UsageCommonly used in computer science and operations research.
SynonymsAntonymsexhaustive search - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describes a method that is based on experience and practice rather than a perfect theory.
adj.relating to or using a problem-solving technique that is practical and sufficient, though not theoretically perfect.
Simple“The team took a heuristic approach to the project because they had very little time.”
In context“Heuristic methods are indispensable in fields where data is incomplete and the cost of an exhaustive search is prohibitive.”
UsageUsually precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'heuristic method' or 'heuristic analysis'.
Antonyms
From Ancient Greek εὑρίσκω (heurískō, “I find, discover”), albeit in a formation the Greeks themselves would not have recognised.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.