precision

American  

[pri-sizh-uhn] / prɪˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

1. the state or quality of being precise.

2. accuracy; exactness.

   to arrive at an estimate with precision.

   Synonyms:

   rigor

3. mechanical or scientific exactness.

   a lens ground with precision.

4. punctiliousness; strictness.

   precision in one's business dealings.

5. Mathematics. the degree to which the correctness of a quantity is expressed.

6. Chemistry, Physics. the extent to which a given set of measurements of the same sample agree with their mean.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by precision.

   precision swimming; precision instruments for aircraft.

precision British  

/ prɪˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. the quality of being precise; accuracy

2. (modifier) characterized by or having a high degree of exactness

   precision grinding

   a precision instrument

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Other Word Forms

• overprecision noun
• precisional adjective
• precisionism noun
• precisionist noun
• ultraprecision noun

Etymology

Origin of precision

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin praecīsiōn-, stem of praecīsiō “cutoff”; equivalent to precise + -ion

Example Sentences

"Our work lays the foundation for developing precision prevention strategies for infectious diseases," says Wang.

From Science Daily

Today, in a supposedly more humane age, the perfect weapon is one that does minimum damage, sparing the innocent by targeting the guilty with maximum precision and surprise.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her government has identified 17 sectors it wants to target for strategic investment, including critical minerals but also precision machinery, biotechnology and quantum computing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hadrian builds precision component factories that help space manufacturers get the parts they need 10 times as fast at 1/20th of the cost.

From The Wall Street Journal

Outside some cancers, he says, the promise of precision medicine has remained elusive.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• rigor