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:
If the employer confirms the bonus was for work performed in 2025, filing the SSA-131 keeps it out of that calculation.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
To arrive at that calculation, Prof Ramesh says they studied a "very energetic" CME that took place on 5 August 2024.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
When the researchers used a different calculation that removed severely derogatory balances, they found that the pace of delinquencies stabilized after 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
A rough calculation suggests that last year’s cityide overall homelessness number would have still have been an increase, but by a more modest rate of just under 1.9%, not 3.4%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
She wanted to know how late, and I did a quick calculation.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
For one, Nowak’s calculations run on the assumption that demand for computing capacity will continue to grow.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
As housing costs, especially “owner’s equivalent rent,” make up the largest component of the official inflation calculations, the two often march hand in hand.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
According to AFP calculations based on data published by energy group EDF since 2015, 20.4 percent of generating capacity was unavailable.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
According to the team's calculations, compact objects larger than roughly 90 meters in size could pass through the transition and emerge again after the Universe began expanding.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Some mathematical calculations I had performed became part of the document we created, Notes on Space Technology.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
