statistics
- 1Numerical facts or figures collected about something, such as population counts, incomes or accident rates.
The census bureau released its annual statistics on household income.
Health statistics from the region revealed a sharp drop in infant mortality.
UsageThe figures take are: these statistics are new. One figure is a statistic; informally stats.
Note
The old meaning still shows through: the figures it often names, such as population, income and age, are the kind of data about the state that the word first referred to, though statistics now covers almost any subject.
- 2A branch of applied mathematics concerned with collecting, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
He teaches statistics to first-year economics students.
Modern statistics relies heavily on computer software to process large datasets.
UsageAs a subject it takes is: statistics is required for many courses. The figures it studies take are.
Note
A science named for the state: Gottfried Achenwall used German Statistik in the 1740s for the analysis of data about the state, from New Latin statisticum, "of the state."
Practice
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Origin
From German Statistik, in turn from New Latin statisticum ("of the state") and Italian statista ("statesman"). The term was used by Gottfried Achenwall in the 1740s and originally referred to the analysis of data about the state.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Statistics comes from German Statistik. en.wiktionary.org
- The German word derives from New Latin statisticum, meaning 'of the state', and Italian statista, meaning 'statesman'. en.wiktionary.org
- Achenwall had already publicly used the term in 1748. statistik.bayern.de
- The term originally referred to the analysis of data about the state. en.wikipedia.org