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statistics

[ stuh-tis-tiks ]
/ stəˈtɪs tɪks /
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See synonyms for statistics on Thesaurus.com
noun
(used with a singular verb) the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.
(used with a plural verb) the numerical facts or data themselves.
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Origin of statistics

First recorded in 1770–80; from German Statistik “political science, statistics,” from New Latin (collēgium) statisticum “(council) of state,” from statisticus “pertaining to state affairs,” and from Italian statista “politician, statesman,” derivative of stato “state,” ultimately from Latin status “constitution, public order”; see origin at status, -ics

Words nearby statistics

statistically independent, statistical mechanics, statistical significance, statistical tables, statistician, statistics, Statius, stative, Statler, stato-, statoblast
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to statistics

data, stats, census, demography, figures

How to use statistics in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for statistics

statistics
/ (stəˈtɪstɪks) /
noun
(functioning as plural) quantitative data on any subject, esp data comparing the distribution of some quantity for different subclasses of the populationstatistics for earnings by different age groups
(functioning as singular)
  1. the classification and interpretation of such data in accordance with probability theory and the application of methods such as hypothesis testing to them
  2. the mathematical study of the theoretical nature of such distributions and testsSee also descriptive statistics, statistical inference

Word Origin for statistics

C18 (originally ``science dealing with facts of a state''): via German Statistik, from New Latin statisticus concerning state affairs, from Latin status state
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

Scientific definitions for statistics

statistics
[ stə-tĭs′tĭks ]
Used with a singular verb The branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Statistics is especially useful in drawing general conclusions about a set of data from a sample of the data.
Used with a plural verb Numerical data.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for statistics

statistics

The branch of mathematics dealing with numerical data. (See mean, median, mode, normal distribution curve, sample, standard deviation, and statistical significance.)

notes for statistics

A particular problem of statistics is estimating true values of parameters from a sample of data.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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