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Synonyms

estimation

American  
[es-tuh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɛs təˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. judgment or opinion.

    In my estimation the boy is guilty.

  2. esteem; respect.

    Synonyms:
    veneration, honor, regard, appreciation
  3. approximate calculation; estimate.

    to make an estimation of one's expenditures.


estimation British  
/ ˌɛstɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

  1. a considered opinion; judgment

    what is your estimation of the situation?

  2. esteem; respect

  3. the act of estimating

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of estimation

1325–75; Middle English estimacioun < Middle French < Latin aestimātiōn- (stem of aestimātiō ). See estimate, -ion

Explanation

The noun estimation refers to a judgment of the qualities of something or someone. In your estimation no boy will be good enough for your daughter. He could be the kindest and smartest person on the planet and you'd still find fault. The noun estimation has its Latin roots in aestimare, meaning "to value." One of the definitions for estimation is an approximate calculation of something's value. If you go to an auction, you can often review a catalog that will have an estimation of the value of each item for sale. Sometimes the items sell for more than the estimation and sometimes less. The auctioneer hopes there are many bids for the pair of stone lions, but if you're bidding, you hope you're the only one who wants them.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing estimation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Wildlife Institute of India's new All-India Elephant Estimation report released this week puts the wild elephant population at 22,446 -- down from nearly 29,964 estimated in 2017, a fall of 25 percent.

From Barron's • Oct. 15, 2025

Facial Age Estimation offers a "potentially rapid and simple means" for testing judgements when assessing age, Eagle said.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

Rhode referenced the Nature Conservancy’s Shallow Groundwater Estimation Tool, which found that 44% of ecosystems statewide have been impacted by a significant, long-term decline in groundwater between 1985 and 2019.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2022

Estimation of key epidemiological parameters is important in its own right, to understand the dynamic of the pandemic, learn from it, and devise long term-strategies.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2020

Estimation is generally not taught either, aside from a few lessons on rounding off numbers.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos