calculation

American  

[kal-kyuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌkæl kjəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

calculations plural

1. the act or process of calculating; computation.

2. the result or product of calculation.

   His calculations agree with ours.

3. an estimate based on the known facts; forecast.

   Her calculation of the building costs proved quite accurate.

4. forethought; prior or careful planning.

5. scheming selfishness.

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calculation British  

/ ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, process, or result of calculating

2. an estimation of probability; forecast

3. careful planning or forethought, esp for selfish motives

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Synonym Usage

See prudence.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precalculation
  noun
• calculational
  adjective
• calculative
  adjective
• calculatory
  adjective
• noncalculative
  adjective
• uncalculative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• calculations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of calculation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin calculātiōn- (stem of calculātiō “reckoning”). See calculate, -ion

Explanation

Calculation is the act of calculating, which is using math or logic to figure out a problem. If your calculation is correct, then you can wear you sister’s favorite dress and put it back before she gets home. A calculation is a careful, thought-out activity. The first kind of calculation involves figuring out the answer to a problem in math — the kind you might use a calculator for. Calculation also refers to using logic to figure out a non-numerical problem. If you have a difficult decision to make — like deciding what college to attend — calculation is your friend. That kind of calculation is to thoroughly think something through and make plans.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

calculation calculations

Data-center builders rely heavily on imports like semiconductor chips, and those imports count against the U.S. growth calculation because the products are not made in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Part of the calculation, with the Tigers on a skid that could push them to sell at the deadline, will be the health of the Dodgers’ pitching staff, which is steadily improving.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

With the new calculation, the Sun's silver abundance is now much more consistent with the amount found in these ancient meteorites.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

When the British government authorized 38 new criminal charges against the Tates and submitted an updated extradition request to the Justice Department, the White House’s calculation was simple.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

To make this calculation, we needed a way to hold a rocket in place while we measured its thrust.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Even here, though, historians have noted that the Soviet Union’s near-simultaneous invasion of Manchuria—which dispelled Japan’s illusion that Moscow might stay neutral in the war—also had an impact on the emperor’s calculations.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

I asked Elliott what risk he sees of the federal government trying to change the inflation calculations on TIPS.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

Note: Inflation-adjusted calculations of dollars spent per win based on opening day payroll and a 162-game pace, all MLB teams since 2000.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

By the researcher's calculations, that figure is seven to 165 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of copper produced, depending on the sulfide content of the metal ore and local geologic conditions.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

“By our calculations, the runoff shouldn’t be traveling very far.”

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• arithmetic
• computation
• counting
• estimate
• estimation
• forecast
• judgment
• prediction