statistics

American  

[stuh-tis-tiks] / stəˈtɪs tɪks /

noun

1. (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.

2. (used with a plural verb) the numerical facts or data themselves.

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statistics British  

/ stəˈtɪstɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as plural) quantitative data on any subject, esp data comparing the distribution of some quantity for different subclasses of the population

   statistics for earnings by different age groups

2. (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 tests See also descriptive statistics statistical inference

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statistics Scientific  

/ stə-tĭs′tĭks /

1. 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.

2. Numerical data.

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statistics Cultural  

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

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Discover More

A particular problem of statistics is estimating true values of parameters from a sample of data.

Etymology

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”; status, -ics

Example Sentences

Official government statistics estimate 342,100 net additional homes have been delivered in England between Labour being elected in July 2024, and 15 March 2026.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Factory orders climbed 0.9% on month, recovering a little from the 11.1% slump in the first month of the year, Germany’s statistics agency Destatis said Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

In France, the price of regular petrol has gone up by just 17 percent, according to government statistics consulted by AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Along with the MVP candidate’s statistics in the offensive category, how about including the collective statistics of the opponents they are primarily assigned to guard?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Most alarmingly, these statistics indicate that we are currently in the midst of a sixth mass extinction—a mass dying-off of species.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

Related Words

• data
• stats