normal distribution

American  

noun

Statistics.

1. a theoretical frequency distribution represented by a normal curve.

---

normal distribution British  

noun

1. Also called: Gaussian distribution.  statistics a continuous distribution of a random variable with its mean, median, and mode equal, the probability density function of which is given by ( exp- [( x –μ)²/2σ²]/σ√(2π)) where μ is the mean and σ² the variance

---

normal distribution Scientific  

/ nôr′məl /

1. A theoretical frequency distribution for a set of variable data, usually represented by a bell-shaped curve symmetrical about the mean.

---

Etymology

Origin of normal distribution

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

normal distribution

“The sort of normal distribution of playing age will begin to move forward and that experience within the squad will be key.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Since humans are bad at thinking probabilistically, we’ll be tempted to deem those folks flipping geniuses, rather than see their achievements as predictable points on a normal distribution of outcomes.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 30, 2022

We can now quite easily calculate all probabilities for any value of x, for this particular normal distribution, that has a mean of zero and a standard deviation of 1.

From Textbooks ● Nov. 29, 2017

To compute probabilities, areas, for any normal distribution, we need only to convert the particular normal distribution to the standard normal distribution and look up the answer in the tables.

From Textbooks ● Nov. 29, 2017

The normal distribution also arises in the measuring process.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos