analysis
noun
anal·y·sis
ə-ˈna-lə-səs 
plural analyses
ə-ˈna-lə-ˌsēz
1
a
: 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
3
a
: 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)
5
: psychoanalysis
a patient who is in/undergoing analysis
6
a
: 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
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.
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
Patrick De Haan — head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which, in addition to AAA, also tracks how much gasoline is selling for at the pump — predicted prices will remain well under $4 a gallon throughout the summer.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
As this salary analysis shows, professors at elite institutions often earn double the salary while teaching half the course load.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Ninety-one of the 100 school districts that receive the most money from four frozen grant programs are in Republican congressional districts, according to an analysis from New America, a left-leaning think tank.
—Bianca Vázquez Toness, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
An analysis by The Tennessean found the statistics were taken nearly verbatim from a post on a book review website that allows users to report and catalog books considered to be explicit for children.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for analysis
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
As this salary analysis shows, professors at elite institutions often earn double the salary while teaching half the course load.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Ninety-one of the 100 school districts that receive the most money from four frozen grant programs are in Republican congressional districts, according to an analysis from New America, a left-leaning think tank.
—Bianca Vázquez Toness, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
An analysis by The Tennessean found the statistics were taken nearly verbatim from a post on a book review website that allows users to report and catalog books considered to be explicit for children.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for analysis
Cite this Entry
“Analysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analysis. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
analysis
noun
anal·y·sis
ə-ˈnal-ə-səs
plural analyses
-ə-ˌsēz
1
a
: an examination of a whole to discover its elements and their relations
b
: a statement of such an analysis
2
: an explanation of the nature and meaning of something
analysis of the news
3
: the identification or separation of the parts of a substance
4
Etymology
derived from Greek, from analyein "to break up," from ana- "up" and lyein "to loosen"
Medical Definition
analysis
noun
anal·y·sis
ə-ˈnal-ə-səs
plural analyses
-ˌsēz
1
: separation of a whole into its component parts
2
a
: the identification or separation of ingredients of a substance
b
: a statement of the constituents of a mixture
3
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