statistic
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of statistic
First recorded in 1815–20; back formation from statistics
Explanation
A statistic is a numerical piece of information. If you are trying to prove a point, and you want your argument to have a sense of authority, you might want to use a statistic to back up your claim. A statistic is a single piece of information represented by a number. “Water makes up 70% of the Earth’s surface,” for instance, is a statistic. A statistic is like a fact that is reached through a mathematical process. A population figure is the most common statistic you will encounter. When made plural, statistics means either a collection of statistics or the science of creating and interpreting statistics, as in “His favorite course in college was Statistics.”
Vocabulary lists containing statistic
Argumentative Writing
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Argumentative Writing, List 1
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Tears of a Tiger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That is a sobering statistic for any manager - regardless of previous achievements.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026
Yet the statistic he felt gave him the best chance for the Hall of Fame was number of hits.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
Or try this statistic: Only 11% of Americans have a power-of-attorney document in place, according to Trust & Will’s latest report on the state of estate planning.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
The author is remarkably good at finding an obscure statistic or fact that causes the reader to sit back and ponder.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Let’s now consider the following statistic, which represents the hundreds of matches in which a 7-7 wrestler faced an 8—6 wrestler on a tournament’s final day.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
