statistics
statistics Lexical Profile
statistics Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Pieces of numerical data or quantitative facts collected, classified, and tabulated to present information about a specific subject or population.
"Recent government statistics indicate that renewable energy consumption has risen steadily over the past decade."
The branch of mathematics and applied science concerned with collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting numerical data, often using probability theory to make inferences.
"She decided to take an advanced course in statistics to prepare for her graduate research in economics."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the academic discipline or mathematical science, 'statistics' is treated as a singular uncountable noun and takes a singular verb (e.g., 'Statistics is a challenging subject'). When referring to a collection of numerical figures or data points, it is treated as a plural noun and takes a plural verb (e.g., 'The latest statistics show a decline in unemployment').
• Rhymes for statistics
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 18th century from German Statistik, coined by political scientist Gottfried Achenwall from New Latin statisticus ('of politics or state affairs'), ultimately from Italian statista ('statesman') and Latin status ('state, condition'), as the discipline originally involved collecting demographic and economic data for the state.