statistics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A set of numbers that gives information about something.

   The statistics show that crime has fallen this year.

2. 2
   noun

   The branch of mathematics that deals with collecting and analyzing numerical data.

   Statistics is required for many social science degrees.

From German Statistik, from New Latin statisticum (“of the state”) and Italian statista (“statesman, politician”), compare English statist. Statistik introduced by Gottfried Achenwall (1749), originally designated the analysis of data about the state.

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