permutation
[C/U] Both
pl: permutations
This term carries a heavy mathematical flavor, evoking the image of a puzzle where the pieces remain the same but their sequence changes. It is used when the exact order of elements is the defining characteristic of the result, distinguishing it from a combination where order is irrelevant. In a broader creative or social context, it suggests a systematic exploration of possibilities. When someone speaks of permutations of a plan, they are imagining a mental grid of every possible outcome based on shifting a few key variables.
Countable when referring to one specific arrangement of a set (e.g., one permutation of the letters). Uncountable when referring to the general mathematical concept of permutation.