随机化算法（randomized algorithm），是这样一种算法，在算法中使用了随机函数，且随机函数的返回值直接或者间接的影响了算法的执行流程或执行结果。就是将算法的某一步或某几步置于运气的控制之下，即该算法在运行的过程中的某一步或某几步涉及一个随机决策，或者说其中的一个决策依赖于某种随机事件。

古代人做决策的时候依靠占卜，这也被认为是随机化算法。

A randomized algorithm is an algorithm that employs a degree of randomness as part of its logic. The algorithm typically uses uniformly random bits as an auxiliary input to guide its behavior, in the hope of achieving good performance in the "average case" over all possible choices of random bits. Formally, the algorithm's performance will be a random variable determined by the random bits; thus either the running time, or the output (or both) are random variables.