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Many of us often use precision and accuracy as synonyms, but not scientists and engineers. For them, accuracy describes a particular measurement—that is, how close it is to the truth. But precision describes a measurement system—that is, how good it is at giving the same result every time it measures the same thing. This may be why even nonscientists now often speak of "precision instruments" for measuring, "precision landings" made by airplanes, "precision drilling" for natural gas, and so on.
Synonyms
Examples of precision in a Sentence
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
As well as allowing precise localization at distances of up to 500 m, the researchers showed that the new technique also boosted the average precision of tracking at shorter distances by 32 percent compared to previous approaches.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Apr. 2024
Peel-and-stick options require precision to apply but shouldn’t leave a residue when removed.
—Ronita Choudhuri-Wade Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024
In recent years Iran has demonstrated the ability to upgrade some systems, improving their range and precision.
—Nilo Tabrizy, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
Take the example of Batesville Tool & Die, a small manufacturing company in Batesville, Indiana that makes precision metal stamping components.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
What’s more, this IWC unabashedly breaks the record for moon-phase precision, promising accuracy for 45 million years.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
Remarkably, these obligations were spelled out with much greater precision than NATO’s Article 5: imposing a no-fly zone, supplying weapons, or directly intervening with the guarantor state’s own military force.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
Compared with other precision missiles, the Shahed-136 drone is often less deadly, as the distinctive buzzing sound gives people time to seek shelter before an explosion and the blast radius is smaller than that of the Shahed’s precision counterparts.
—William Neff, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Bjoern Petersen, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022
And the composite in the aluminum-composite rear axle links was flexible enough to give the rear axle a disturbing springy, non-precision feel in some dynamic situations.
—Gary Witzenburg, Car and Driver, 7 July 2021
His Merrill Lynch account contains shares of companies like Sarepta Therapeutics, a maker of precision genetic medicines that treat rare neuromuscular and central nervous system diseases.
—New York Times, 20 Mar. 2021
But after decades of offshoring, finding U.S. manufacturing facilities capable of producing precision medical devices isn't easy.
—David Z. Morris, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2021
The invention challenge drew numerous tinkerers with no experience making precision medical devices for use on the critically ill.
—Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precision.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near precision
Cite this Entry
“Precision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precision. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precision
1 of 2 noun
precision
2 of 2 adjective
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