fortran: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “fortran” mean?
A high-level, general-purpose, procedural programming language originally developed for scientific and engineering computations, known for its efficiency with numerical calculations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A high-level, general-purpose, procedural programming language originally developed for scientific and engineering computations, known for its efficiency with numerical calculations.
The language's name is a portmanteau of 'Formula Translation', reflecting its primary design purpose. It is historically significant as one of the first high-level programming languages and has evolved through numerous standards (FORTRAN 66, 77, 90, 2003, etc.), remaining in use in legacy scientific computing, numerical weather prediction, and computational physics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic difference in usage. Spelling conventions (e.g., 'programme' vs. 'program') do not apply as it is a proper noun. The pronunciation is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: technical, scientific, legacy computing, high-performance number crunching.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to technical computing contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fortran” in a Sentence
[compile/run/write] + Fortran + [code/program][language/system] + written in + FortranFortran + [is/was] + [used/developed] + forVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fortran” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Fortran subroutine needed optimisation.
- They maintain a large Fortran codebase.
American English
- The Fortran compiler was updated.
- We're dealing with legacy Fortran libraries.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used except in highly specific contexts like software firms specializing in scientific computing or consultancy on legacy systems.
Academic
Used in computer science, physics, engineering, and applied mathematics departments when discussing historical programming, high-performance computing, or maintaining old codebases.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be encountered if discussing the history of computing or specific technical careers.
Technical
The primary context. Refers to the language itself, its compilers, code, standards, and its application in computational science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fortran”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fortran”
- Pronouncing it as 'for-tran' with a distinct second syllable /træn/ instead of the blended /træn/.
- Incorrectly capitalizing it in running text (e.g., 'a fortran program'). It should be 'a Fortran program'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'I learned a new fortran') instead of a proper noun ('I learned Fortran').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in scientific computing, high-performance computing (HPC), and legacy systems in fields like weather forecasting, physics simulations, and engineering.
Early versions were officially named in all capital letters (FORTRAN). Since Fortran 90, the standards have used the stylized 'Fortran'. In modern writing, 'Fortran' is standard, though 'FORTRAN' is still used, particularly when referring to older standards (e.g., FORTRAN 77).
Basic Fortran syntax is relatively straightforward, especially for procedural programming. However, mastering modern Fortran's advanced features (like coarrays for parallel computing) and understanding legacy code with archaic constructs can be challenging.
It was created in the 1950s by IBM to allow scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to write programs using a syntax closer to mathematical notation, eliminating the need to program in complex machine code or assembly language.
A high-level, general-purpose, procedural programming language originally developed for scientific and engineering computations, known for its efficiency with numerical calculations.
Fortran is usually technical / academic in register.
Fortran: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːtræn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrtræn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the language that was built to translate FORMULAS for the computer: FORmula TRANslation = FORTRAN.
Conceptual Metaphor
A foundational tool / bedrock language (e.g., 'Fortran is the bedrock of scientific computing').
Practice
Quiz
What does the name 'Fortran' stand for?