extrapolation

[ ik-strap-uh-ley-shuhn ]

/ ɪkˌstræp əˈleɪ ʃən /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for extrapolation on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act or instance of inferring an unknown from something that is known.

Statistics, Mathematics. the act or process of estimating the value of a variable or function outside the tabulated or observed range.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of extrapolation

First recorded in 1870–75; extrapolat(e) + -(t)ion

Words nearby extrapolation

extraordinary wave, extraphysical, extraplanetary, extra point, extrapolate, extrapolation, extrapose, extraposition, extraprofessional, extrapyramidal, extrapyramidal system

How to use extrapolation in a sentence

We challenged the audience to determine where Beethoven’s phrases ended and where the AI extrapolation began.
An AI finished Beethoven’s final symphony. But is it good?|Ahmed Elgammal/The Conversation|September 26, 2021|Popular-Science
It’s a clever and just-plausible extrapolation of real scientific work on the activity and measurement of brains.
What Is Life? - Issue 106: Intelligent Life|Caleb Scharf|September 16, 2021|Nautilus
We know that extrapolation can be taken only so far, but that’s why the past is so vital to understand.
The Future SEO: Boardroom edition|Kris Jones|September 15, 2021|Search Engine Watch
I generally focus on politics in what I write but I’ll spare you any extrapolations examining how the divisions in our country might overlap with these motivations.
The gas shortage is another recent example of Americans making things worse for one another|Philip Bump|May 12, 2021|Washington Post

Keep in mind, the report is an extrapolation of current findings and exploration of their implications.
Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Hiding in Our Galaxy’s Interior Ocean Worlds|Jason Dorrier|March 21, 2021|Singularity Hub
You claim that you actually guessed where that ship was going to be, but you followed the computer's extrapolation instead?
But, I Don't Think|Gordon Randall Garrett
The last three values are those obtained by extrapolation with platinum-rhodium and platinum-iridium couples.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
In controversion of this it must be said that the ulterior justification of such ideal extrapolation is not yet feasible.
Natural Philosophy|Wilhelm Ostwald
Even the most favorable extrapolation showed it would take him nineteen years to become master of the world.
Teething Ring|James Causey
I thought my subconscious was just building up this stuff to fill the gaps in what I'd produced from logical extrapolation.
The Edge of the Knife|Henry Beam Piper

Cultural definitions for extrapolation

extrapolation

[ (ik-strap-uh-lay-shuhn) ]

A mathematical procedure designed to enable one to estimate unknown values of a parameter from known values. A common method of extrapolation is to look at data on a curve, then extend the curve into regions for which there is no data. Extrapolation is often used to predict the future.

extrapolation

Origin of extrapolation

Words nearby extrapolation

Words related to extrapolation

How to use extrapolation in a sentence

Cultural definitions for extrapolation