computationally

"Computationally" describes something done with or by means of computers and the processes they use—such as calculation, data analysis, and algorithms. It's more than just "using a computer"; it implies a focus on how things are processed and solved using computational methods. Think about solving a complex math problem: you might do it manually, but if software processes the variables to find the answer, that solution is computationally derived.

It is frequently used in fields like science, engineering, and mathematics to emphasize the role of software in achieving results. For example, scientists might "model climate change computationally," meaning they use complex programs to simulate how the environment will evolve. Or, a linguist might analyze language "computationally" by using algorithms to identify patterns in large amounts of text. It can also describe something that is feasible or efficient because of computing power—like saying a problem is now "computationally solvable" thanks to advances in technology.

The word "computationally" points to something done through computation—often by software running on a computer—or described in terms of computing requirements (like time, memory, or complexity). It highlights that the result comes from calculation and algorithms, not just a person working it out by hand.

You will often encounter "computationally" in scientific and technical contexts. For example, if a "protein structure was determined computationally," it means scientists used algorithms to predict its shape rather than relying solely on physical lab experiments. Similarly, saying a task is "computationally intensive" indicates that solving it requires significant processing power and time.

The term is not limited to the "hard" sciences. Computationally modeling a social phenomenon might involve creating a digital simulation to understand how human groups behave. In the field of linguistics, analyzing language computationally allows researchers to use computer science to decode the structure of human speech.

The rise of powerful processors has made many previously impossible tasks "computationally feasible." This means that problems once considered too complex or time-consuming can now be tackled effectively. We might say a new drug was discovered "computationally," meaning it was identified through millions of computer simulations rather than traditional trial-and-error methods. Ultimately, when you see "computationally," think about the power of computers to process information and unlock insights that would be difficult or impossible to achieve otherwise—it represents a world where algorithms and data drive discovery.