approximation
Americannoun
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a guess or estimate.
Ninety-three million miles is an approximation of the distance of the earth from the sun.
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nearness in space, position, degree, or relation; proximity; closeness.
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Mathematics, Physics. a result that is not necessarily exact, but is within the limits of accuracy required for a given purpose.
noun
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the process or result of making a rough calculation, estimate, or guess
he based his conclusion on his own approximation of the fuel consumption
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an imprecise or unreliable record or version
an approximation of what really happened
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maths an inexact number, relationship, or theory that is sufficiently accurate for a specific purpose
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maths
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an estimate of the value of some quantity to a desired degree of accuracy
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an expression in simpler terms than a given expression which approximates to it
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of approximation
1400–50; late Middle English approximacioun (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin approximātiōn-, stem of approximātiō. See approximate, -ion
Explanation
An approximation is a rough estimate or guess at something. When you write a budget for the month, you're making an approximation of how much you're going to spend. You can't be certain of the exact amount. Like approximately or proximity, approximation comes from the Latin proximus which means "nearest." An approximation is the nearest estimate you can get without having the precise size or measure of something. It's a ballpark figure. When you set out for work in the morning, the amount of time you give yourself to get there is an approximation. Depending on traffic and weather, you can never know exactly how long the trip will take.
Vocabulary lists containing approximation
Pi Day Vocabulary
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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The Number System
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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.
I make these mostly by feel now, so the measurements in the recipe below are my best approximation of an average batch.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
"Her voice sounded fragile and exposed, but at least it was her distinctive voice, not some autotuned approximation."
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
"This phenomenon was expected by some but now we have a precise approximation for it which didn't exist previously."
From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2026
In the Galacticoaster, for instance, riders will build a virtual approximation of a spaceship from a touchscreen, selecting options for wings, cannons and more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026
Hazel moved her head in an approximation of a nod.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
