analysis

noun

anal·y·sis | \ ə-ˈna-lə-səs

plural analyses\ -ˌsēz

Definition of analysis

1a : a detailed examination of anything complex in order to understand its nature or to determine its essential features : a thorough study doing a careful analysis of the problem

b : a statement of such an examination

2 : separation of a whole into its component parts

3a : the identification or separation of ingredients of a substance a chemical analysis of the soil

b : a statement of the constituents of a mixture

4 mathematics

a : proof of a mathematical proposition by assuming the result and deducing a valid statement by a series of reversible steps

b(1) : a branch of mathematics concerned mainly with limits, continuity, and infinite series

(2) : calculus sense 1b

5 : psychoanalysis a patient who is in/undergoing analysis

6a : a method in philosophy of resolving complex expressions into simpler or more basic ones

b : clarification of an expression by an elucidation of its use in discourse

7 linguistics : the use of function words instead of inflectional forms as a characteristic device of a language

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about analysis

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Examples of analysis in a Sentence

His analyses expose hidden fractures with the clarity of an X-ray, and his rhetorical skill, though modulated in a journalistic style, owes much to the give and take of Euripides' crisp dialogue. — G. W. Bowersock, New York Review of Books, 6 Nov. 2008 In order to depict economic decisions mathematically, economists needed to assume that human behavior is both rational and predictable. They imagined a representative human, Homo economicus, endowed with consistent preferences, stable moods, and an enviable ability to make only rational decisions. This sleight of hand yielded some theories that had genuine predictive value, but economists were obliged to exclude from their analyses many phenomena that didn't fit the … framework, such as stock-market bubbles, drug addiction, and compulsive shopping. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 18 Sept. 2006 Thus little more than a month before the convention was due to assemble in Philadelphia, James Madison fashioned a powerful and comprehensive analysis of the problems of federalism and republicanism. — Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996 Thanks to some pioneering studies, and an increasing body of editions, translations, and detailed analyses, we now have a good general picture of the spiritual culture of late-medieval women on the Continent, especially in the Low Countries and Germany. — Nicholas Watsons, Speculum, July 1993 a scientific analysis of the data make a chemical analysis of the soil a detailed analysis of the bone structure of horses performing chemical analysis of the soil The newspaper printed an analysis of each candidate's positions. That's not a bad analysis of the situation. It's a problem that requires careful analysis. He has been in analysis for many years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jobs losses tied to cuts to Medicaid and mental health programs would be the next biggest, with a loss of nearly 900 jobs, the analysis found. — Annie Zak, Anchorage Daily News, "Dunleavy’s budget vetoes would pull Alaska back into a recession, economist says," 9 July 2019 In California, older residents of far northern counties — such as Shasta and Modoc — and the Central Coast counties of Monterey and San Benito are among those who spend the highest percentage of their incomes on premiums, the analysis found. — latimes.com, "With Obamacare in peril, California reins in rising health insurance premiums," 9 July 2019 An analysis released this month by Apartment List found Bay Area renters looking to move are searching other local cities far more often than out-of-state tech hubs like Seattle, Portland or Austin, Tex. — Louis Hansen, The Mercury News, "Bay Area renters looking to flee high prices aren’t looking far," 6 July 2019 Funding for education, health programs at stake An analysis from the Center for Public Policy Priorities found that some 580,000 Texas children under 5 are at high risk of not being counted during the 2020 census. — Obed Manuel, Dallas News, "The citizenship question won’t be on the 2020 census. Here's what that means for Dallas and Texas," 2 July 2019 Recently, an analysis of Facebook posts found 179 questionable posts from 97 current and former Phoenix officers. — J. Edward Moreno, azcentral, "Phoenix 911 calls document threats to officers in viral video," 1 July 2019 The analysis by Morgan Stanley and Oliver Wyman found that PE returned on average 6.2 percentage points a year more than a global public-equity index from 1997 to 2016. — The Economist, "Stephen Schwarzman says that Blackstone is not done growing," 29 June 2019 An analysis by the Tax Policy Center found that the top 1% of income earners would get 20.5% of the tax cut benefits in 2018. — USA TODAY, "Fact checking Thursday's Democratic debate on climate change, guns and immigration," 28 June 2019 That analysis found that in 2027 the top 1% of earners would get 83% of the savings from the tax overhaul signed into law by President Donald Trump. — chicagotribune.com, "Fact check: Looking at claims from the second night of Democratic debates," 27 June 2019

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