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word

heuristic

hyoo-RIS-tik

hjʊˈrɪstɪk

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Syllable breakdown

heuristic

Dictionary meaning

A mental shortcut that allows quick problem-solving; a rule of thumb.

History and origin

Greek — 'heuriskein' (to discover).

Examples

  • The 80/20 rule is a useful heuristic for prioritising tasks, though it isn't always accurate.

Common mispronunciations

HYOOR-is-tikhyoo-RIS-tihk

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