analysis

American  

[uh-nal-uh-sis] / əˈnæl ə sɪs /

noun

analyses plural

1. the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements (opposed to synthesis).

2. this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations.

   the grammatical analysis of a sentence.

3. a presentation, usually in writing, of the results of this process.

   The paper published an analysis of the political situation.

4. a philosophical method of exhibiting complex concepts or propositions as compounds or functions of more basic ones.

5. Mathematics.

   1. an investigation based on the properties of numbers.

   2. the discussion of a problem by algebra, as opposed to geometry.

   3. the branch of mathematics consisting of calculus and its higher developments.

   4. a system of calculation, as combinatorial analysis or vector analysis.

   5. a method of proving a proposition by assuming the result and working backward to something that is known to be true.

6. Chemistry.

   1. intentionally produced decomposition or separation of materials into their ingredients or elements, as to find their kind or quantity.

   2. the ascertainment of the kind or amount of one or more of the constituents of materials, whether obtained in separate form or not.

7. psychoanalysis.

8. Computers. systems analysis.

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analysis British  

/ əˈnælɪsɪs /

noun

1. the division of a physical or abstract whole into its constituent parts to examine or determine their relationship or value Compare synthesis

2. a statement of the results of this

3. short for psychoanalysis

4. chem

   1. the decomposition of a substance into its elements, radicals, or other constituents in order to determine the kinds of constituents present ( qualitative analysis ) or the amount of each constituent ( quantitative analysis )

   2. the result obtained by such a determination

5. linguistics the use of word order together with word function to express syntactic relations in a language, as opposed to the use of inflections Compare synthesis

6. maths the branch of mathematics principally concerned with the properties of functions, largely arising out of calculus

7. philosophy (in the writings of Kant) the separation of a concept from another that contains it Compare synthesis

8. after everything has been given due consideration

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analysis Scientific  

/ ə-năl′ĭ-sĭs /

1. The separation of a substance into its constituent elements, usually by chemical means, for the study and identification of each component.

2. ◆ Qualitative analysis determines what substances are present in a compound.

3. ◆ Quantitative analysis determines how much of each substance is present in a compound.

4. A branch of mathematics concerned with limits and convergence and principally involving differential calculus, integral calculus, sequences, and series.

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Usage

Plural word for analysis The plural form of analysis is analyses, pronounced [ uh-nal-uh-seez ]. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -is are also formed in the same way, including hypothesis/hypotheses, crisis/crises, and axis/axes. A similar change is made when pluralizing appendix as appendices. Irregular plurals that are formed like analyses derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin and Greek. Do you know: What is the plural of thesis?

Other Word Forms

• misanalysis
  noun
• overanalysis
  noun
• reanalysis
  noun

Etymology

Origin of analysis

First recorded in 1575–85; from New Latin, from Greek, equivalent to analȳ́(ein) “to loosen up” ( ana- “up, against, back” + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis noun suffix; see ana-, -sis

Explanation

Use the noun analysis to refer to the way you understand something by looking at it in different ways and studying its different parts. Analysis is a noun that is used in many ways and by many fields. It makes sense, since it is "a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations," which means everyone does it at some point. In fact, every time you solve a problem you use analysis. Analysis is also shorthand for psychoanalysis, used for understanding psychological and mental processes.

Example Sentences

You will have guessed that Everton will not feature positively in any category of this VAR analysis.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Between social media, reality television and analysis, we are encouraged to share, share, share.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

Technical analysis suggests crude palm oil futures remain in bearish territory, while neutral palm oil fundamentals may continue to pressure prices, it adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

"Large language models have made it possible to do this kind of analysis much faster with a level of standardization that could be difficult to achieve before," says Sehgal.

From Science Daily • May 24, 2026

The AIG FP traders present were shocked by how little thought or analysis seemed to underpin the subprime mortgage machine: It was simply a bet that home prices would never fall.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• evaluation
• finding
• interpretation
• judgment
• opinion
• reasoning
• report
• study
• summary