statistics

[ stuh-tis-tiks ]
/ stəˈtɪs tɪks /
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.

Origin of statistics

First recorded in 1780–90; see origin at statistic, -ics

Words nearby statistics

statistical significance, statistical tables, statistically, statistically independent, statistician, statistics, statius, stative, statler, stato-, statoacoustic

Definition for statistics (2 of 2)

statistic
[ stuh-tis-tik ]
/ stəˈtɪs tɪk /

noun Statistics.

a numerical fact or datum, especially one computed from a sample.

Origin of statistic

From the New Latin word statisticus, dating back to 1780–90. See status, -istic

OTHER WORDS FROM statistic

non·sta·tis·tic, adjective un·sta·tis·tic, adjective

Words related to statistics

data, stats, census, demography

Example sentences from the Web for statistics

British Dictionary definitions for statistics (1 of 2)

statistics
/ (stəˈtɪstɪks) /

noun

(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
(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

British Dictionary definitions for statistics (2 of 2)

statistic
/ (stəˈtɪstɪk) /

noun

any function of a number of random variables, usually identically distributed, that may be used to estimate a population parameter See also sampling statistic, estimator (def. 2), parameter (def. 3)

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.

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.