correlate

American  

[kawr-uh-leyt, kor-, kawr-uh-lit, -leyt, kor-] / ˈkɔr əˌleɪt, ˈkɒr-, ˈkɔr ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt, ˈkɒr- /

verb (used with object)

correlated, correlating

1. to place in or bring into mutual or reciprocal relation; establish in orderly connection.

   to correlate expenses and income.

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verb (used without object)

correlated, correlating

1. to have a mutual or reciprocal relation; stand in correlation.

   The results of the two tests correlate to a high degree.

adjective

1. mutually or reciprocally related.

noun

1. either of two related things, especially when one implies the other.

correlate British  

/ ˈkɒrɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to place or be placed in a mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relationship

2. (tr) to establish or show a correlation

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adjective

1. having a mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relationship

noun

1. either of two things mutually or reciprocally related

Other Word Forms

• correlatable
  adjective
• intercorrelate
  verb (used with object)
• noncorrelating
  adjective
• uncorrelated
  adjective
• uncorrelatedly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of correlate

First recorded in 1635–45; probably back formation from correlation and correlative

Explanation

If you notice that crumbs appear on your little brother's shirt whenever the cookies disappear from the cookie jar, you can say that you've correlated two facts, meaning that you've established or revealed that they're linked in a way that explains both of them. Detectives correlate pieces of evidence in order to solve crimes. For example, they might correlate a suspect’s bandaged hand with a shattered third-floor window. Correlate can also be used as a noun. Some companies promote products by suggesting that their products increase “happiness correlates,” or factors that have been shown to have a relationship with happiness, like health and friendship.

Example Sentences

These differences are often explained by how stocks co-move, or correlate, with a set of identifiable risk factors.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

It’s impossible to correlate any one episode’s millions of “views” with support.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

"It was very surprising to find three lysine sites on three different proteins that correlate so highly with disease state."

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

"I think there's a hell of a lot more work to be done when it comes to your menstrual cycle and addiction and how that can correlate to making those bad decisions."

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

The book was filled with complicated sentences explaining Henrietta’s cells by saying, “its atypical histology may correlate with the unusually malignant behavior of the carcinoma,” and something about the “correlate of the tumor’s singularity.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• correspond
• interact
• tie in