permutation

 
Pronunciation: /pəːmjʊˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

  • each of several possible ways in which a set or number of things can be ordered or arranged: his thoughts raced ahead to fifty different permutations of what he must do
  • [mass noun] Mathematics the action of changing the arrangement, especially the linear order, of a set of items.
  • British a selection of a specified number of matches in a football pool.

Derivatives

permutational

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'exchange, barter'): via Old French from Latin permutatio(n-), from the verb permutare 'change completely' (see permute)