accurate

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

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

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

Not perfectly accurate, perhaps, but perfectly suited to consumer mobile use.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "Huawei P20 Pro review: style and substance," 6 Apr. 2018
Gruev noted that not only is the new technology more sensitive and accurate, but much smaller and lower-cost than currently available instruments that are FDA-approved.

— Fox News, "Surgical goggles spot cancer tissue where human eye won’t, study claims," 5 Apr. 2018
Some local officials have been wary of helping the group make sure the mailers are accurate, largely because the organization won’t say who funds its efforts.

— antonio olivo, Washington Post, "Voter registration group confuses Virginia voters with misleading mailers, officials say," 5 Apr. 2018
If this year's poor forecast proves accurate, four of Lake Powell's six driest runoff years will have come since 2002.

— brandon loomis, azcentral, "After dry winter, Colorado River forecasters look for 6th-driest runoff year," 4 Apr. 2018
Turns out that was far from accurate, as evidenced by their 16-game win streak early in the season.

— jill martin, CNN, "NBA playoffs 2018: Who are title contenders?," 2 Apr. 2018
Both teams are accurate from the perimeter, but the Jayhawks are likely to have less pressure on them, playing the role of the underdog for the second straight game this tournament.

— jesse newell, kansascity, "Quick scout: The hope for KU against Villanova in the Final Four | The Kansas City Star," 30 Mar. 2018
The beauty of the plan is that his projections don’t have to be 100 percent accurate, since fees, timing, technology, and even the zone’s boundaries can be tweaked.

— justin davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "Why You Should Be in Favor of Congestion Pricing in New York," 27 Mar. 2018
Steering responses are accurate, and effort is pleasantly hefty.

— Car and Driver, "2018 Ford C-Max," 22 Mar. 2018

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

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

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

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.