number cruncher

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: a computer that performs fast numerical calculations especially on large amounts of data
2
: a person concerned with numerical data (such as statistics)
number crunching noun

number crunching

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the performance of long complex often repetitive mathematical calculations
also : statistical analysis
number crunch verb

Examples of number cruncher in a Sentence

Noun (1) The number crunchers in Washington are expecting a budget surplus by the fall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Well, almost no one was stirring — except for the number crunchers at DC. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025 Government number crunchers were temporarily idled in October, so were unable to collect housing prices that month. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 12 May 2026 What's interesting, according to the number crunchers at Climate Central, is that over time, April is growing warmer at a decent clip. — Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 12 May 2025 Scientists are philosophers, explorers, data collectors and number crunchers. — Adam Meyer, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for number cruncher

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of number cruncher was in 1966

Rhymes for number cruncher

See All Rhymes for number cruncher

Browse Nearby Words

number-board
number cruncher
number crunching
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Number cruncher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/number%20cruncher. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

number cruncher

noun
number crunch·​er
-ˈkrən-chər
1
: a computer that performs fast numerical calculations especially on large amounts of data
2
: a person concerned with complex numerical data
number crunching noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All