meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌme-tə-ə-ˈna-lə-səs 

: a quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance

Examples of meta-analysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the most recent study, researchers from the University of Cambridge and other institutions conducted a meta-analysis of studies that examined the link between different eating plans and the development of type 2 diabetes. —New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2025

More recent meta-analysis also shows that acupressure may improve sleep quality, particularly for people with insomnia. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 July 2025

Chronic psychological stress was found to be associated with a risk of uterine fibroids, according to a meta-analysis of observational studies. —Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

That pattern led him to launch the larger meta-analysis, which confirmed the findings. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meta-analysis

• haemodialysis
• hemodialysis
• microanalysis
• psychoanalysis
• analysis
• dialysis
• paralysis
• cryptanalysis
• urinalysis
• electrodialysis

Medical Definition

meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌmet-ə-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

: quantitative statistical analysis that is applied to separate but similar experiments of different and usually independent researchers and that involves pooling the data and using the pooled data to test the effectiveness of the results

the report … on low cholesterol presented a comprehensive meta-analysis of 32 randomized studies involving 42,000 individuals

—Scientific American Medicine Bulletin