correlation coefficient

American  

noun

Statistics.

1. one of a number of measures of correlation, usually assuming values from +1 to −1.

---

correlation coefficient British  

noun

1. statistics a statistic measuring the degree of correlation between two variables as by dividing their covariance by the square root of the product of their variances. The closer the correlation coefficient is to 1 or –1 the greater the correlation; if it is random, the coefficient is zero See also Pearson's correlation coefficient Spearman's rank-order coefficient

---

Etymology

Origin of correlation coefficient

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The correlation coefficient between the Dow and S&P 500 over the past 40 years, as well as over the past year, is 0.99, according to a MarketWatch analysis of FactSet Data.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

In an interview, he pointed out that the correlation coefficient rises mechanically during periods of heightened volatility — such as what we’ve seen in recent years.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

According to Kim, people often think first of Pearson's correlation coefficient when they hear the word agreement, since it is introduced early in statistics education and remains a fundamental tool.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

Conclusion: There is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a significant linear relationship between X1 and X2 because the correlation coefficient is significantly different from zero.

From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017

The seepage of the underground water is so slow that not until four years' rainfall is taken into account is the correlation coefficient more than four times the probable error.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Huntington, Ellsworth