calculation
Americannoun
-
the act or process of calculating; computation.
-
the result or product of calculation.
His calculations agree with ours.
-
an estimate based on the known facts; forecast.
Her calculation of the building costs proved quite accurate.
-
forethought; prior or careful planning.
-
scheming selfishness.
noun
-
the act, process, or result of calculating
-
an estimation of probability; forecast
-
careful planning or forethought, esp for selfish motives
Synonym Usage
See prudence.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
precalculationnoun
-
calculationaladjective
-
calculativeadjective
-
calculatoryadjective
-
noncalculativeadjective
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Week 4: Now We Know
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
With the new calculation, the Sun's silver abundance is now much more consistent with the amount found in these ancient meteorites.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
When the British government authorized 38 new criminal charges against the Tates and submitted an updated extradition request to the Justice Department, the White House’s calculation was simple.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Dr Paul Williams, a bumblebee expert at the Natural History Museum, says foraging is an energy calculation for bumblebees.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
And as I explained in my answer to that letter, it is a calculation.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
In a split second, I make a calculation of how this ice structure might topple if I mess with it right now.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
The calculations were performed with Tetralith, a Swedish supercomputer at the National Supercomputer Center at Linköping University.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
I asked Elliott what risk he sees of the federal government trying to change the inflation calculations on TIPS.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Note: Inflation-adjusted calculations of dollars spent per win based on opening day payroll and a 162-game pace, all MLB teams since 2000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
By the researcher's calculations, that figure is seven to 165 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of copper produced, depending on the sulfide content of the metal ore and local geologic conditions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
The book showed how useful Arabic numerals were for doing complex calculations, and the Italian merchants and bankers quickly seized upon the new system, zero included.
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.
