accurate

play

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

accurately

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

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

Of course, the Reds crystal ball is as accurate as everyone else’s.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: While Homer Bailey shakes off the rust, let's see if there's a lesson here", 30 June 2017
And on the heels of the controversy surrounding 13 Reasons Why, viewers were quick to take to social media to posit whether or not To the Bone would offer an accurate portrayal of mental health or serve as a productive conversation piece.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Marti Noxon Responds to Backlash Over Netflix's "To the Bone" Trailer", 26 June 2017
The list, if accurate, represents an intrusion into the internal affairs of Qatar that would threaten its very sovereignty.

— kristian coates ulrichsen, The Atlantic, "The Gulf's Demands on Qatar Look Designed to Be Rejected", 24 June 2017
That's an accurate way to describe the season Chicago Christian produced under Brauer, the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball Coach of the Year.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Eric Brauer the Daily Southtown 2017 Baseball Coach of the Year", 24 June 2017
For comparison, ESPN expert Chad Ford's first 10 picks were accurate.

— tim bannon, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls' winners and losers from NBA draft night", 23 June 2017
The report contained seven recommendations for General Services and four for the Department of Technology, including immediately ensuring that agencies enter accurate and complete information into the statewide database.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Audit: Low-income phone program grew to $84 million from $36 million because of poor oversight", 20 June 2017
A main disadvantage of self-treatment without a diagnosis is that an accurate result of the tests for celiac disease requires that the person regularly consumes gluten.

— jane e. brody, New York Times, "Who Really Needs to Be Gluten-Free?", 19 June 2017
The report states much of the problem in calculating rates correctly came from an inability to ensure accurate data was being kept showing when students began ninth grade and documenting why students were removed from the cohort.

— trisha powell crain, AL.com, "Alabama education officials react to audit findings that state inflated graduation rates", 16 June 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!

First Known Use: circa 1599

See Words from the same year

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

play

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

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.