statistics
pronunciation
How to pronounce statistics in British English:
UK [stəˈtɪstɪks]
How to pronounce statistics in American English:
US [stəˈtɪstɪks]
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- Noun:
- a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters
Word Origin
- statistics (n.)
- 1770, "science dealing with data about the condition of a state or community" [Barnhart], from German Statistik, popularized and perhaps coined by German political scientist Gottfried Aschenwall (1719-1772) in his "Vorbereitung zur Staatswissenschaft" (1748), from Modern Latin statisticum (collegium) "(lecture course on) state affairs," from Italian statista "one skilled in statecraft," from Latin status (see state (n.2)). OED points out that "the context shows that [Aschenwall] did not regard the term as novel," but current use of it seems to trace to him. Sir John Sinclair is credited with introducing it in English use. Meaning "numerical data collected and classified" is from 1829; hence the study of any subject by means of extensive enumeration. Abbreviated form stats first recorded 1961.
Example
- 1. But its statistics are disputed .
- 2. The statistics are incontrovertibly awful .
- 3. And statistics support this view .
- 4. They lie about battle statistics .
- 5. Statistics show the positive side .