probable error

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nounStatistics.
  1. a quantity formerly used as a measure of variability: equal to 0.6745 times the standard deviation. A normally distributed population has half of its elements within one probable error of the mean.

Origin of probable error

1
First recorded in 1805–15

Words Nearby probable error

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use probable error in a sentence

Scientific definitions for probable error

probable error

[ prŏbə-bəl ]


  1. The amount by which the arithmetic mean of a sample is expected to vary because of chance alone.

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