palindromic
|pal-in-dro-mic|
🇺🇸
/ˌpælɪnˈdroʊmɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌpælɪnˈdrɒmɪk/
reads the same forwards and backwards
Etymology
'palindromic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'palindromos', where 'palin-' meant 'again/back' and 'dromos' meant 'running' or 'course'.
'palindromic' developed via the noun 'palindrome' (from Greek 'palindromos' through New Latin/Modern Latin) into English; the adjective 'palindromic' was formed from that noun to describe the quality of being a palindrome.
Initially related to the idea of 'running back again' or 'returning', it evolved to describe sequences or expressions that read the same forwards and backwards (its current meaning).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
reading the same forward and backward (applied to words, numbers, phrases, or sequences).
The word 'level' is palindromic.
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Adjective 2
(Mathematics) Having coefficients or digits that read the same forwards and backwards (e.g., palindromic number or palindromic polynomial).
121 is a palindromic number, and the polynomial x^2 + 2x + 1 can be described as palindromic in its coefficients.
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Last updated: 2025/09/12 20:40