back-of-the-envelope
adjective
: done quickly to provide a rough estimate : not exact
did a back-of-the-envelope calculation
His method is, in effect, a back-of-the-envelope time-and-motion study.—
Ian Stewart
Ian StewartExamples of back-of-the-envelope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Both memoirs prepare the lay gambler for a world of gruelling, bruising defeats and unglamorous back-of-the-envelope calculus.
—Dan Piepenbring, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Even simple back-of-the-envelope and spreadsheet models, using historical hourly data, tell a more consistent story.
—Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
Caveating that many basic questions remain unanswered, a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows a clear trade-off between immediate monthly affordability and long-term debt accumulation.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
So a back-of-the-envelope calculation would put $2,000 stimulus checks at a total cost of about $326 billion.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Antony Karabus, a longtime strategic adviser to retailers, gave a back-of-the-envelope accounting of how the costs of all the retail must-haves have changed since 2017 or 2018.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Just back-of-the-envelope energy math.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
When the Legislature convened early this year, back-of-the-envelope math suggested school choice would pass, especially since the new House speaker, Dustin Burrows, was open to such proposal.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
While there’s no perfect answer, the 25x rule offers a simple, back-of-the-envelope way to estimate retirement savings needs.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
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Dan Piepenbring, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Even simple back-of-the-envelope and spreadsheet models, using historical hourly data, tell a more consistent story.
—Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
Caveating that many basic questions remain unanswered, a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows a clear trade-off between immediate monthly affordability and long-term debt accumulation.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
So a back-of-the-envelope calculation would put $2,000 stimulus checks at a total cost of about $326 billion.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Antony Karabus, a longtime strategic adviser to retailers, gave a back-of-the-envelope accounting of how the costs of all the retail must-haves have changed since 2017 or 2018.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Just back-of-the-envelope energy math.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
When the Legislature convened early this year, back-of-the-envelope math suggested school choice would pass, especially since the new House speaker, Dustin Burrows, was open to such proposal.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
While there’s no perfect answer, the 25x rule offers a simple, back-of-the-envelope way to estimate retirement savings needs.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back-of-the-envelope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-of-the-envelope. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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