machine learning
noun
1
: a computational method that is a subfield of artificial intelligence and that enables a computer to learn to perform tasks by analyzing a large dataset without being explicitly programmed
The company is curating the overall topics manually, but Twitter will be relying on machine learning to intelligently populate the topics themselves so that the tweets can stay up to date.—Lucas Matney
Unsupervised learning, also known as unsupervised machine learning, uses machine learning algorithms to analyze and cluster unlabeled datasets. These algorithms discover hidden patterns or data groupings without the need for human intervention.—IBM
Supervised machine learning requires labeled data to adjust the parameters of the model during training. … But without quality training data, supervised learning models will end up making poor inferences.—Ben Dickson
Reinforcement machine learning trains machines through trial and error to take the best action by establishing a reward system. Reinforcement learning can train models to play games or train autonomous vehicles to drive by telling the machine when it made the right decisions, which helps it learn over time what actions it should take.—Sara Brown
2
: the branch of computer science that employs machine learning
An entire subspecialty known as machine learning is devoted to building algorithms that allow computers to develop new behaviors based on experience.—Adam Piore
While many scholars in the developing field of machine learning were focused on improving algorithms, [Cynthia] Rudin instead wanted to use AI's power to help society.—Duke University
—abbreviation ML
Cite this Entry
“Machine learning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine%20learning. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.
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