accurate

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adjective ac·cu·rate \ ˈa-kyə-rət , ˈa-k(ə-)rət \

Definition of accurate

1 :free from error especially as the result of care

an accurate diagnosis

2 :conforming exactly to truth or to a standard :exact

providing accurate color

3 :able to give an accurate result

an accurate gauge

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accurately

play \ˈa-kyə-rət-lē, ˈa-k(ə-)rət-, ˈa-k(y)ərt-\ adverb

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accurateness

play \-kyə-rət-nəs, -k(ə-)rət-nəs\ noun

See accurate defined for English-language learners

See accurate defined for kids

Examples of accurate in a Sentence

The model is accurate down to the tiniest details.
Her novel is historically accurate.
The machines were not yet accurate enough to give useful results.

Recent Examples of accurate from the Web

The earthy, historically-accurate color palette fits the space perfectly.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "This is the Stone Farmhouse We've Been Waiting Our Whole Lives to Buy," 24 Aug. 2017
And there is the risk that the photos aren’t accurate.

— jack greiner, Cincinnati.com, "Greiner: Shame on You and You and You," 24 Aug. 2017
Like Obama in 2016, Trump this week was (mostly) accurate.

— michael barone, National Review, "What Identity Politics Hath Wrought," 18 Aug. 2017
In reality, that temperature probably isn’t accurate: Your oven could be anywhere from a couple degrees to a whopping fifty off the mark.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "An Oven Thermometer Will Reveal Your Oven's Dirty Lies," 15 Aug. 2017
Here are a few of the main reasons why a not-quite-accurate idea refuses to go away.

— stephanie bucklin, The Cut, "The Pill Causing Weight Gain Is the Myth That Won’t Go Away," 11 Aug. 2017
Chief Ralph Piccirilli, Customs and Border Protection public affairs liaison, said that the process is more than 99 percent accurate.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "At O'Hare, some passengers undergo face scans in test of security program," 20 July 2017
As Sam Thielman of Talking Points Memo initially pointed out on Twitter, that may not be entirely accurate.

— gabriella paiella, The Cut, "Did Japan’s First Lady Pretend She Doesn’t Speak English So She Wouldn’t Have to Talk to Trump?," 20 July 2017
But detection may become easier if an experimental blood test ultimately proves accurate, said another report released on the same day.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Alzheimer's diagnosis often mistaken, but new blood test may improve accuracy," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accurate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of accurate

borrowed from Latin accūrātus "prepared with care, studied, meticulous," from past participle of accūrāre "to give attention to, do carefully," from ad- ad- + cūrāre "to watch over, care for" — more at ²cure

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1599

See Words from the same year

accurate Synonyms

Synonyms

correct, bang on [chiefly British], dead-on, exact, good, on-target, precise, proper, right, so, spot-on, true, veracious

Antonyms

false, improper, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off, untrue, wrong

Related Words

legitimate, logical, sound, valid; errorless, faultless, flawless, impeccable, inerrant, infallible, letter-perfect, perfect; rigorous, strict, stringent

Near Antonyms

defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect

Synonym Discussion of accurate

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth. correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

- correct answers
- socially correct dress

accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

- an accurate description

exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

- exact measurements

precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

- precise calibration

nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

- makes nice distinctions

right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

- the right thing to do

ACCURATE Defined for English Language Learners

accurate

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adjective

Definition of accurate for English Language Learners

: free from mistakes or errors
: able to produce results that are correct : not making mistakes

ACCURATE Defined for Kids

accurate

play

adjective ac·cu·rate \ ˈa-kyə-rət \

Definition of accurate for Students

:free from mistakes :right

an accurate answer

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accurately

adverb

Word Root of accurate

The Latin word cūrāre, meaning “to care,” gives us the root cur. Words from the Latin cūrāre have something to do with giving care. A cure, something that heals sickness, is something that cares for someone's health. Anything accurate has been carefully measured or supplied so that it is free from mistakes. A curator is a person who cares for the things in a museum.