English Meaning & Definitions
An amount (usually small) that is allowed for in case of miscalculation or change of circumstances; specifically, in statistics, the range of values above and below a sample statistic within which the true population parameter is likely to lie.
- “The poll results have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.”
- “We need to build a larger margin of error into our project timeline to account for potential supply chain delays.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “margin of error”.
The term combines 'margin' (from the Latin 'margo', meaning edge or border) and 'error' (from the Latin 'errare', meaning to wander or stray). In a statistical context, it emerged in the 20th century to quantify the 'border' of uncertainty surrounding a sample estimate, representing the range within which the true population value is expected to fall.
Think of a 'margin' in a notebook: it's the empty space on the side where you can make mistakes or corrections; the 'margin of error' is the space allowed for statistical mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions About “margin of error”
1. What is the meaning of “margin of error” in English?
In English, margin of error (noun) is defined as: “An amount (usually small) that is allowed for in case of miscalculation or change of circumstances; specifically, in statistics, the range of values above and below a sample statistic within which the true population parameter is likely to lie.”.
2. How do you use “margin of error” in a sentence?
“The poll results have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.”
3. What are English synonyms of “margin of error”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “margin of error”?
The term combines 'margin' (from the Latin 'margo', meaning edge or border) and 'error' (from the Latin 'errare', meaning to wander or stray). In a statistical context, it emerged in the 20th century to quantify the 'border' of uncertainty surrounding a sample estimate, representing the range within which the true population value is expected to fall.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.