commutativity \com`mu*ta*tiv"i*ty\, n. (Math.) the property of a binary operation or operator such that the result of one term operating on a second is equal to the result of the second term operating on the first. [GG] Note: If the symbol "*" is taken to be a commutative binary operator, then the following equation holds: a*b = b*a A common example is the addition operator for real numbers, "+": a+b = b+a [GG]