probable error


noun Statistics.

a quantity formerly used as a measure of variability: equal to 0.6745 times the standard deviation. A normally distributed population has half of its elements within one probable error of the mean.

Origin of probable error

First recorded in 1805–15

Scientific definitions for probable error

probable error
[ prŏbə-bəl ]

The amount by which the arithmetic mean of a sample is expected to vary because of chance alone.