precision
prih-SIZH-un
/prɪˈsɪʒən/
The quality of being exact, accurate, and careful.
In sports, precision refers to the ability to hit a specific target consistently, often under pressure.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'praecisio,' meaning 'a cutting off.' It comes from 'praecidere' (to cut off in front), suggesting that everything unnecessary has been removed to leave only the exact point.
Word relationships
- accuracy: Accuracy is how close you are to the target; precision is how consistent your results are.
- imprecision: A lack of exactness or detail.
Commonly confused with
- finesse: Finesse is about delicacy and touch, while precision is about mathematical exactness.
Word family
- precise (adjective): Exact and accurate.
- precisely (adverb): In an exact manner.
Collocations
- surgical precision
- mathematical precision
- pinpoint precision
Example sentences
- "His precision on the baseline was uncanny, hitting the lines repeatedly." Technical analysis
- "Precision beats power, and timing beats speed." General wisdom (Conor McGregor (adapted for sports context))
Memory hook
'Pre-cut'—imagine a diamond that has been 'pre-cut' to exact dimensions. Cut to the point.
When not to use
Avoid using 'precision' when 'accuracy' is more appropriate; accuracy is hitting the target once, precision is hitting it the same way every time.
Fun facts
- The word 'precise' was originally used in the 1500s to describe people who were overly strict in religious matters.
Related words
Explore more words
accuracy, replicate, replicable, rigorous, meticulous, calibrate
Also appears in
- Engineering & Industrial Design → Quality Assurance & Tolerances
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Culinary Tools & Equipment
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Winter & Ice Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Gymnastics & Acrobatics
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Motor & Racing Sports
- Physical Sciences & Cosmology → Laboratory Apparatus
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.