analytical
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of analytical
First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin analyticus analytic ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
What do Sherlock Holmes and Albert Einstein have in common? (No, this is not the start of a joke.) They were both analytical — meaning they were good at breaking down problems into smaller parts to find solutions. The adjective, analytical, and the related verb analyze can both be traced back to the Greek verb, analyein — "to break up, to loosen." If you are analytical, you are good at taking a problem or task and breaking it down into smaller elements in order to solve the problem or complete the task. The opposite type of problem-solving is called the intuitive approach in which a person senses the correct action to take without proof or reasoning. Analytic can be substituted for analytical in this sense.
Vocabulary lists containing analytical
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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Ungifted
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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.
More than 40% said AI was bringing more complexity and analytical responsibility to those jobs as the technology takes over more of the rote, administrative tasks traditionally assigned to new graduates.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Prof. André de Villiers, who led the study and heads the analytical chemistry research group at SU, said the results were striking.
From Science Daily • May 1, 2026
When I finished my Ph.D., a friend at Sanford C. Bernstein told me they were hiring analytical people and that the firm had my kind of DNA.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
Hottovy, head of analytical research at the location-analytics provider.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
I saw myself as smart, analytical, and ambitious.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
