precision
prih-SIZH-uhn
/prɪˈsɪʒən/
The quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
Implies a high degree of skill and attention to detail.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'praecidere,' meaning 'to cut off.' Think of 'cutting away' all the errors and unnecessary bits until only the exact, perfect movement remains.
Word relationships
- accuracy: Accuracy is how close you are to the target; precision is how consistent your results are.
- exactness: Exactness is the quality of being strictly accurate.
- imprecision: Lack of exactness or accuracy.
Commonly confused with
- accuracy: You can be precise (hitting the same spot) without being accurate (hitting the bullseye).
Word family
- precise (adjective): Exact and accurate.
- precisely (adverb): In a precise manner.
Collocations
- surgical precision
- mathematical precision
- high precision
Example sentences
- "The figure skater performed her routine with surgical precision, landing every jump perfectly." Describing a figure skater's movements.
- "Precision is the quality of being exact, accurate, and careful." A dictionary definition.
Memory hook
Precision = Pre-Cut. Cutting it exactly before you use it. Precision = Perfect exactness.
When not to use
Do not use when 'accuracy' (hitting the target) is the only goal; precision is about consistency and detail.
Fun facts
- In science, 'precision' refers to the reproducibility of measurements.
- The first 'precision' watches were developed for sailors to determine longitude at sea.
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 → Racket & Court Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Gymnastics & Acrobatics
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Motor & Racing Sports
- Physical Sciences & Cosmology → Laboratory Apparatus
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