correlation coefficient

American  

noun

Statistics.

1. one of a number of measures of correlation, usually assuming values from +1 to −1.

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correlation coefficient British  

noun

1. statistics a statistic measuring the degree of correlation between two variables as by dividing their covariance by the square root of the product of their variances. The closer the correlation coefficient is to 1 or –1 the greater the correlation; if it is random, the coefficient is zero See also Pearson's correlation coefficient Spearman's rank-order coefficient

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Etymology

Origin of correlation coefficient

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The correlation coefficient was not significant at the 95% confidence level that statisticians often use when assessing whether a pattern is genuine.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

Over the past three years, the correlation coefficient between the XLF and the S&P 500 is 0.97, in which a correlation of 1.00 means they move exactly in unison.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 14, 2026

According to Kim, people often think first of Pearson's correlation coefficient when they hear the word agreement, since it is introduced early in statistics education and remains a fundamental tool.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

Conclusion: There is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a significant linear relationship between X1 and X2 because the correlation coefficient is significantly different from zero.

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

Hence in comparing the growth of the huge sequoias with the rainfall we should expect a correlation coefficient high enough to be convincing, but decidedly below 1.00.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Huntington, Ellsworth