precision

[ pri-sizh-uhn ]

/ prɪˈsɪʒ ən /

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noun

the state or quality of being precise.

accuracy; exactness: to arrive at an estimate with precision.

mechanical or scientific exactness: a lens ground with precision.

punctiliousness; strictness: precision in one's business dealings.

Mathematics. the degree to which the correctness of a quantity is expressed.Compare accuracy (def. 3).

Chemistry, Physics. the extent to which a given set of measurements of the same sample agree with their mean.Compare accuracy (def. 2).

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by precision: precision swimming; precision instruments for aircraft.

OTHER WORDS FOR precision

2 preciseness, meticulousness, rigor.

See synonyms for precision on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of precision

1630–40; <Latin praecīsiōn- (stem of praecīsiō) a cutting off. See precise, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM precision

pre·ci·sion·al, adjectiveo·ver·pre·ci·sion, nounul·tra·pre·ci·sion, noun

Words nearby precision

precipitous, précis, precise, precisely, precisian, precision, precision bombing, precision casting, precisionism, precisive, preclear

How to use precision in a sentence

In quantum electrodynamics, making predictions involves calculating to a certain level of precision, leaving out terms that are less significant and more difficult to calculate.
A measurement of positronium’s energy levels confounds scientists|Emily Conover|August 24, 2020|Science News
This imposes a ceiling on predictive precision — and on how well physicists can understand what quantum theory says.
The Mathematical Structure of Particle Collisions Comes Into View|Charlie Wood|August 20, 2020|Quanta Magazine
It’s a very small effect, but gravitational waves have been observed with such high precision that we can already say that the graviton mass must be less than 10−21 electron volts.
The Physicist Who Slayed Gravity’s Ghosts|Thomas Lewton|August 18, 2020|Quanta Magazine
As technology tracks and analyzes our behaviors and lifestyles with ever more precision—sometimes with our knowledge and sometimes without—the opportunities for others to remotely monitor our mental state is growing fast.
Machines can spot mental health issues—if you hand over your personal data|Bobbie Johnson|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review

The final proof is like a precision instrument, which has just the right combination of ideas to produce the outcome they wanted.
New Geometric Perspective Cracks Old Problem About Rectangles|Kevin Hartnett|June 25, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The precision it took to craft such a cohesive, wholly compelling work over 12 years is nothing short of remarkable.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And increasingly smart navigation aids in the cockpit brought far greater precision and efficiency to route planning.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
While not all 86 million maintain positions of governance or public service, the Party's machinery runs on watchmaker precision.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It takes Sharp four hours to get into character: “I take joy in the mathematical, symmetrical precision and perfectness of Bach.”
The Brit Who Stormed Broadway|Tim Teeman|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We do know with great precision what happened to the expelled student.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor|S. C. Gwynne|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was engaged in the Encyclopedie, and his articles on grammar are drawn up with great precision, correctness and judgment.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Then turning again to Doctor Kraus, he said slowly and clearly, enunciating each word with care and precision.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
They divide the day into ten thousand minutes, and know, with the greatest precision, what minute is favorable or otherwise.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
The sight of those two hands, moving with their usual skill and precision, woke her out of her dream.
Summer|Edith Wharton
Um-ko lifted them, dusted the velvet thongs, and placed them with mathematical precision side by side upon the flat stone.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa

British Dictionary definitions for precision

precision

/ (prɪˈsɪʒən) /

noun

the quality of being precise; accuracy

(modifier) characterized by or having a high degree of exactnessprecision grinding; a precision instrument

Derived forms of precision

precisionism, nounprecisionist, noun

Word Origin for precision

C17: from Latin praecīsiō a cutting off; see precise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

precision

OTHER WORDS FOR precision

Origin of precision

OTHER WORDS FROM precision

Words nearby precision

Words related to precision

How to use precision in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for precision

Derived forms of precision

Word Origin for precision