HEURISTIC

 Dictionary entry overview: What does heuristic mean? 

• HEURISTIC (noun)
  The noun HEURISTIC has 1 sense:

1. a commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem

  Familiarity information: HEURISTIC used as a noun is very rare.

• HEURISTIC (adjective)
  The adjective HEURISTIC has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation

  Familiarity information: HEURISTIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEURISTIC (noun)

Meaning:

A commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

heuristic; heuristic program; heuristic rule

Hypernyms ("heuristic" is a kind of...):

formula; rule ((mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "heuristic"):

lateral thinking (a heuristic for solving problems; you try to look at the problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on)

• HEURISTIC (adjective)

Meaning:

Of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation

Similar:

trial-and-error (relating to solving problems by experience rather than theory)

Antonym:

algorithmic (of or relating to or having the characteristics of an algorithm)