Statistics

noun
1.
(used with a singular verb) the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.
2.
(used with a plural verb) the numerical facts or data themselves.
noun, Statistics.
1.
a numerical fact or datum, especially one computed from a sample.
noun
1.
(functioning as pl) quantitative data on any subject, esp data comparing the distribution of some quantity for different subclasses of the population: statistics for earnings by different age groups
2.
(functioning as sing)

the classification and interpretation of such data in accordance with probability theory and the application of methods such as hypothesis testing to them
the mathematical study of the theoretical nature of such distributions and tests See also descriptive statistics, statistical inference

noun
1.
any function of a number of random variables, usually identically distributed, that may be used to estimate a population parameter See also sampling statistic, estimator (sense 2), parameter (sense 3)
statistics
(stə-tĭs’tĭks)

(Used with a singular verb) The branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Statistics is especially useful in drawing general conclusions about a set of data from a sample of the data.

(Used with a plural verb) Numerical data.

statistics definition

The branch of mathematics dealing with numerical data. (See mean, median, mode, normal distribution curve, sample, standard deviation, and statistical significance.)

Note: A particular problem of statistics is estimating true values of parameters from a sample of data.

statistics, mathematics
The practice, study or result of the application of mathematical functions to collections of data in order to summarise or extrapolate that data.
The subject of statistics can be divided into descriptive statistics – describing data, and analytical statistics – drawing conclusions from data.
(1997-07-16)