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

Derived Forms

• misanalysis
  noun
• overanalysis
  noun
• reanalysis
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• analyses
  plural

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

See Examples For:

analysis analyses

In the letter, Ceferin and Montagliani said analysis carried out on Fifa's published financial statements and budgets raised doubts that the FFE proposal was "necessary to deliver greater resources".

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Acid testing of the child's teeth, a technique developed by the universities of Durham and Bristol, coupled with DNA analysis concluded the child was most likely male, the inquest heard.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

It also allows you to verify what the doctors think of the test results versus the ChatGPT analysis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

That analysis ultimately confirmed the object as Elias 2-24 b.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

For young visitors to the Mary Rose, one of the most interesting results of the detailed analysis of the skeletons and bones has to do with the ship’s dog, whom the researchers have named Hatch.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Alas, there’s nothing new or uncommon about self-interested financial studies posing as objective analyses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

President's Daily Briefs are among the most secretive intelligence analyses in the US government, and typically remain classified for 40 or 50 years after publication.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

The Crypto Lawyers sifted through its blockchain analyses and found 118 clients, including Stilwell, whose losses it believed could be tied to the seized crypto.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

The loss of the princesses' skulls restricts the kinds of analyses that can be performed, and the team has not yet completed every type of investigation it hopes to conduct.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

He was the coauthor of the then latest edition of the modern bible of chess, Modern Chess Openings, which contained thousands of variations, positions, analyses, and recommendations.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

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