estimation

American  

[es-tuh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɛs təˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. judgment or opinion.

   In my estimation the boy is guilty.

2. esteem; respect.

   Synonyms:

   veneration, honor, regard, appreciation

3. approximate calculation; estimate.

   to make an estimation of one's expenditures.

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estimation British  

/ ˌɛstɪˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a considered opinion; judgment

   what is your estimation of the situation?

2. esteem; respect

3. the act of estimating

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Other Word Forms

• preestimation noun
• reestimation noun
• self-estimation noun

Etymology

Origin of estimation

1325–75; Middle English estimacioun < Middle French < Latin aestimātiōn- (stem of aestimātiō ). See estimate, -ion

Explanation

The noun estimation refers to a judgment of the qualities of something or someone. In your estimation no boy will be good enough for your daughter. He could be the kindest and smartest person on the planet and you'd still find fault. The noun estimation has its Latin roots in aestimare, meaning "to value." One of the definitions for estimation is an approximate calculation of something's value. If you go to an auction, you can often review a catalog that will have an estimation of the value of each item for sale. Sometimes the items sell for more than the estimation and sometimes less. The auctioneer hopes there are many bids for the pair of stone lions, but if you're bidding, you hope you're the only one who wants them.

Example Sentences

Roblox has defended a major expansion of its child safety system, despite complaints from parents that the game's user-age estimation can misclassify children and put them into less-protected versions of the service.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

People with the "pancreatic-predominant" pattern showed a proton density fat fraction -- an MRI marker that provides a precise estimation of fat concentration in tissue -- of about 30 percent in the pancreas.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 2026

Those who worry that they aren’t sufficiently productive will be comforted to know that, in Mr. Bailey’s estimation, “you have about four focused hours in you each workday.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

Doncic is, by Redick’s estimation, “one of the greatest offensive engines to ever play basketball.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

All the same, you felt dreadful, just knowing you’d fallen in her estimation, and you wanted to do something straight away to redeem yourself.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

• appraisal
• assessment
• evaluation
• reckoning