margin of error

American  

[mahr-jin uhv er-er] / ˈmɑr dʒɪn əv ˈɛr ər /

noun

1. Statistics. a deviation above or below a given statistic encompassing the range within which the true value is most likely to fall, equal to one-half the span of the confidence interval.

   The poll of likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

2. Also margin for error an amount of extra space, time, resources, etc., allowed to account for mistakes, miscalculations, or altered circumstances.

   The margin of error in the restaurant business is usually razor thin.

   There’s no margin for error with this new deadline, because you’re handing in final papers the day before grades are due.

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Etymology

Origin of margin of error

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The results are estimated to have a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points in either direction in the overall sample, and larger numbers for subgroups.

From Los Angeles Times

Pulling back on spendable income means families have a smaller margin of error if things go wrong, and may compromise the level of financial support parents can offer college-bound or adult children.

From MarketWatch

"So while the game is still on for all the English sides, the margin of error is tiny for some of them now."

From BBC

“The margin of error would almost disappear if we didn’t have to rely so much on a Glitcher’s intuition. Which I hear you have a particular knack for, Cadet Fitz.”

From Literature

The results are estimated to have a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points in either direction in the overall sample, and larger numbers for subgroups.

From Los Angeles Times