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

These confidential records notably showed how their architecture reduced users to a series of statistics, such as "customer lifetime value," representing the total expected profit for a person over their entire time on the platform.

From Barron's

Salah's statistics deliver the evidence - but so much more lies beneath the numbers for the iconic Anfield figure labelled the 'Egyptian King' by his adoring followers on the Kop.

From BBC

We compared our analysis against these numbers and found that for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, our data showed about 15% fewer such parents arrested by ICE than the official statistics noted.

From Salon

There are an estimated 32,800 pregnant women in Cuba at present, according to government statistics.

From BBC

Investors are asking for reams of statistics proving that customers aren’t going anywhere before committing new capital, which the company is still preparing, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• data
• stats