Meaning & use
Adjoint
Last updated
(Mathematics) An operator or matrix derived from a given linear operator or matrix by a specific conjugate or transpose transformation, such as the conjugate transpose used in functional analysis.
See it in a sentence
The adjoint of a Hermitian matrix is equal to the matrix itself.
Engineers use the adjoint operator to efficiently compute gradients in large optimization problems.
A note on using this word
'Adjoint' has two related but distinct meanings in mathematics: the classical adjoint (or adjugate) of a matrix, and the Hermitian adjoint (conjugate transpose) used in linear algebra and quantum mechanics.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Adjoint”, then compare your use with the examples above.