One of the definition is stated in the other answer (indistinguishably). Another way to assert the strength of an algorithm is to compute the complexity of an attack.
Let us assume $$E : \mathcal{K} \times \mathcal{M} \to \mathcal{C}$$
be your encryption function.
It takes as an input a key and a message (or plaintext) and return a ciphertext.
Given a list of pair of (plaintext,ciphertexts) encrypted with the same $key$, the strength of $E$ is given by the number of computations required to find the right $key$.
In other words, if your binary key as a length of $n$ bits. The size of the $\mathcal{K}$ is $2^n$. If you have a strong function, finding the right $k$ will require you on average $2^{n-1}$ computations.
Your function can be weakened by different kinds of attacks. e.g. the initial strength of DES is $\mathcal{O}(2^{55})$ as the size of the key is 56 bits. Matsui showed that with linear cryptanalysis, you can find the key with $2^{43}$ pairs of (plaintext,ciphertexts)[1], thus dicreasing the complexity to $\mathcal{O}(2^{43})$.