# optimization

/ɑptəməˈzeɪʃən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/optimization
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. improving a process

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the act of making a system or process work as well as it possibly can.

For teachers: the design and operation of a system or process to achieve the most effective or functional state possible.

- The company focused on the optimization of its delivery routes to save money on fuel.
- The logistics manager implemented a series of workflow optimizations that significantly reduced the turnaround time for international shipments.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the process being improved.

### 2. software efficiency

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

making a computer program run faster or use less memory.

For teachers: the modification of a software system or algorithm to improve its execution speed or reduce its resource consumption.

- After some code optimization, the app started much faster on older phones.
- The compiler performs several levels of optimization to ensure the final executable runs efficiently on the target hardware architecture.

Usage: Commonly functions as an uncountable noun in technical contexts.

Teaching tip: In computing, this often refers to a trade-off where you improve speed at the cost of memory, or vice versa.

## Examples

- The new software update includes battery optimization for your phone.
- The engineering team focused on code optimization to ensure the application would load quickly even on older devices.
- True algorithmic optimization requires balancing time complexity against memory usage, as reducing the number of computational steps often necessitates storing more data in the cache.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.