precision
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being precise.
-
accuracy; exactness.
to arrive at an estimate with precision.
- Synonyms:
- rigor
-
mechanical or scientific exactness.
a lens ground with precision.
-
punctiliousness; strictness.
precision in one's business dealings.
-
Mathematics. the degree to which the correctness of a quantity is expressed.
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Chemistry, Physics. the extent to which a given set of measurements of the same sample agree with their mean.
adjective
noun
-
the quality of being precise; accuracy
-
(modifier) characterized by or having a high degree of exactness
precision grinding
a precision instrument
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of precision
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin praecīsiōn-, stem of praecīsiō “cutoff”; equivalent to precise + -ion
Explanation
Use the noun precision to describe something that's exact, such as the work of a carpenter who's made 100 identical pieces of railing for a grand staircase. Precision is similar to perfection in that both words suggest that something could not possibly be better. However, perfection describes something that's flawless, such as a beautiful sunset. Precision, on the other hand, is more about accuracy, like computing the exact second that the perfect sunset will occur.
Vocabulary lists containing precision
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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List 5
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The Scientific Method
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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.
Fender lost an attempt to trademark the shapes of its Stratocaster and Telecaster electric guitars and Precision electric bass guitar in 2009.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Finally, on July 11, 2024, at the annual Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements in Aurora, Colorado, the moment arrived.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
Foxconn -- also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry -- has gone beyond assembling low-margin Apple iPhones to making AI servers for Nvidia along with electric vehicles and robotics.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
The 1971 blue Fender Precision is being sold by The Specials' bass player, Horace Panter, who paid £200 for the instrument in 1981.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
His mother never met his father, an Angus by the name of Gar Precision 1680.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
