checksum

noun

check·​sum ˈchek-ˌsəm How to pronounce checksum (audio)
: a sum derived from the bits of a segment of computer data that is calculated before and after transmission or storage to assure that the data is free from errors or tampering

Examples of checksum in a Sentence

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.
At any point in the future, when presented with a document, anyone could take the checksum and look for it on the blockchain. — Christopher Petersen, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 This single-byte checksum can now be used to judge data integrity after transmission. — Adrian Sampson, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2013

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of checksum was in 1940

Rhymes for checksum

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Browse Nearby Words

checkstrap
checksum
check system
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Cite this Entry

“Checksum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checksum. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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