calculation
Americannoun
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calculations
plural
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the act or process of calculating; computation.
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the result or product of calculation.
His calculations agree with ours.
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an estimate based on the known facts; forecast.
Her calculation of the building costs proved quite accurate.
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forethought; prior or careful planning.
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scheming selfishness.
noun
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the act, process, or result of calculating
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an estimation of probability; forecast
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careful planning or forethought, esp for selfish motives
Synonym Usage
See prudence.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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precalculationnoun
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calculationaladjective
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calculativeadjective
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calculatoryadjective
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noncalculativeadjective
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uncalculativeadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of calculation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin calculātiōn- (stem of calculātiō “reckoning”). See calculate, -ion
Explanation
Calculation is the act of calculating, which is using math or logic to figure out a problem. If your calculation is correct, then you can wear you sister’s favorite dress and put it back before she gets home. A calculation is a careful, thought-out activity. The first kind of calculation involves figuring out the answer to a problem in math — the kind you might use a calculator for. Calculation also refers to using logic to figure out a non-numerical problem. If you have a difficult decision to make — like deciding what college to attend — calculation is your friend. That kind of calculation is to thoroughly think something through and make plans.
Vocabulary lists containing calculation
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
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Number and Operations in Base Ten
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Week 4: Now We Know
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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.
See Examples For:
After a moment of intense calculation, he added, “Make that a double.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Your final calculation should account for the business’s fair market value.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Chick-fil-A, meanwhile, has made a rather different calculation.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
His lawyer, Patrick Mulligan, has said he plans to file a notice of appeal, telling reporters last week: "There's a lack of evidence on prior calculation and design."
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Mr. Sharpe gazed as only he could, with an air of assessment and calculation.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
That marks an increase of 156,000 people from the end of last year, and accounts for roughly 3.5 percent of Japan's total population, according to calculations based on government estimates.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
By my calculations, with confirmation from chatbot Gemini, I could make it to the lodge without a charging stop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
However, legal challenges to the scheme - which will be heard in February 2027 -mean compensation calculations and payments have been delayed.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Nonetheless, China is likely to reach the high-income category for 2026 when the World Bank releases its calculations next July.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
We had been driving for almost an hour under the blanket of night, and by our calculations we were about to hit El Sacrificio within the next few miles.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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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.
