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
- approximative adjective
Etymology
Origin of approximation
1400–50; late Middle English approximacioun (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin approximātiōn-, stem of approximātiō. See approximate, -ion
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.
While the data does not specifically detail children per filer, it does show tax exemptions claimed, which is a pretty good approximation.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 16, 2026
Despite this complexity, a close approximation of its motion can be captured with a simple linear equation that uses only the launch speed and angle.
From Science Daily • Dec. 22, 2025
That is a very crude approximation of the cost of some modern compliance rules.
From Barron's • Dec. 4, 2025
A pinched approximation of a muted trumpet suggests some kind of mutant jazz unfolding nearby, while unpredictable pitch changes conjure visions of a tape slipping off a spool.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025
If we use smaller carpets, our approximation gets better and better.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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.
