exact science
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of exact science
First recorded in 1860–65
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.
To be sure, calculating real interest rates is not an exact science, since they are based on future inflation — and that is something we can only estimate.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
The problem is that tax withholding isn’t an exact science, and it doesn’t account for all of the latest tax law changes or fluctuating factors, such as freelance income, investment income and charitable donations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026
"Other thefts are likely unreported and remain unknown as attributing cyber thefts to North Korea is not an exact science."
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025
But the exact science behind it remains unclear and more research needs to be done.
From Salon • Jul. 18, 2024
They use terms like “germline mosaicism,” “chromosome rearrangement,” or “delayed mutation” to explain why their science is not an exact science.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
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.
