precision
prih-SIZH-uhn
/prɪˈsɪʒən/
The quality of being reproducible, consistent, and highly detailed in measurement or execution.
Precision is about consistency (hitting the exact same spot repeatedly, even if it is not the bullseye).
The story behind the word. Precision is literally about cutting away all excess, leaving only the exact, sharp edge of truth. It comes from the same root as 'scissors' and 'incision'.
Word relationships
- exactness: Exactness is the quality of being correct, while precision emphasizes the detail and repeatability of the measurement.
- imprecision: The quality of being vague, rough, or inconsistent.
Commonly confused with
- accuracy: Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value; precision is how close multiple measurements are to each other.
Word family
- precise (adjective): Exact, accurate, and careful in detail.
- precisely (adverb): In a precise manner; exactly.
Collocations
- high precision
- precision engineering
- surgical precision
Example sentences
- "Laser cutting tools are prized in manufacturing for their extreme precision when cutting intricate steel patterns." Manufacturing advertisement
Memory hook
Think of a surgeon making a precise incision—cutting exactly where needed, no more, no less. Cutting away all excess.
When not to use
Do not use interchangeably with accuracy when scientific or engineering distinction is required.
Fun facts
- In mathematics, a number can have high precision (many decimal places) but low accuracy if the calculation itself is wrong.
Explore more words
Also appears in
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Culinary Tools & Equipment
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Winter & Ice Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Racket & Court Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Gymnastics & Acrobatics
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Motor & Racing Sports
- Physical Sciences & Cosmology → Laboratory Apparatus
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