accurate

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

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: accurate in a Sentence

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

4 : going to, reaching, or hitting the intended target : not missing the target

an accurate shot/kick

The next play, Johnson fielded a sharp grounder and made an accurate throw to first.
—Joe Smith

5 : tending to hit the intended target

an accurate free-throw shooter

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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

If findings are accurate, Maria would be the second-deadliest U.S. hurricane in modern U.S. history, following the 1900 Galveston, Texas, storm that killed an estimated 8,000 people.

— daniel cusick, Scientific American, "Hurricane Maria Contributed to Nearly 5,000 Deaths, Researchers Say," 30 May 2018
Either the report wasn’t accurate, the Eagles aren’t confident in Wentz’s knee being ready for the start of the season or the team made a big mistake.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "Nick Foles denies turning down a trade to the Browns: 'It didn't happen'," 29 May 2018
How accurate are certain claims circulating online?

— amy b wang, Washington Post, "The U.S. lost track of 1,475 immigrant children last year. Here’s why people are outraged now.," 27 May 2018
Here's a look at how accurate those claims were: Trump claimed on Tuesday that the previous US administration and its partners who brokered the nuclear deal did so believing that Iran had no intention of developing a nuclear weapon.

— jeremy diamond, CNN, "Fact-checking Trump's Iran speech," 8 May 2018
Past presidents have, of course, said things that wound up not being entirely accurate.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Donald Trump said 35 things that weren't true in his Nashville rally. 35!," 1 June 2018
The map wasn’t geographically accurate and certainly was not approved by the city.

— morgan greene, chicagotribune.com, "A rare 1931 map of Chicago's 'Gangland' could be yours — for 20,000 pounds," 30 May 2018
How accurate are certain claims circulating online?

— author: amy b wang, Anchorage Daily News, "The U.S. lost track of 1,475 immigrant children last year - here’s why people are outraged now," 28 May 2018
How accurate are certain assertions circulating online?

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "The U.S. lost track of 1,475 immigrant children last year; here's why people are outraged now," 28 May 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.