accurate

adjective

ac·​cu·​rate ˈa-kyə-rət 

ˈa-k(ə-)rət

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

accurateness

ˈa-kyə-rət-nəs 

ˈa-k(ə-)rət-nəs

noun

Synonyms of accurate

• correct
• true
• precise
• good

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Popular chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT don’t meet the bar for doctors, who say these platforms aren’t always accurate or up to date with the latest guidance. —Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026

Mendoza is accurate with the football and can make every throw on the field. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026

If accurate, the account could add to growing concerns about the oversight of Jaxon’s case in the days leading up to his death. —Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2026

Fang Qian, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of its GPS program, said this satellite will feature anti-jam capability that’s eight times stronger and three times more accurate than the legacy spacecraft on orbit today. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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 cure entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for accurate

• inaccurate

Kids Definition

accurate

adjective

ac·​cu·​rate ˈak-yə-rət 

1

: free from mistakes especially as the result of care

an accurate count

2

: agreeing exactly with truth or a standard

an accurate copy

3

: able to give an accurate result

an accurate gauge

accurately

-yə-rət-lē 

-yərt-

adverb

accurateness

-nəs 

noun

Etymology

from Latin accuratus "accurate," from accurare "to take care of," from ac-, ad- "to" and cura "care" — related to cure, curious see Word History at cure