cor·re·late
ˈkȯr-ə-lət 
ˈkär-,
-ˌlāt
1
: either of two things so related that one directly implies or is complementary to the other (such as husband and wife)
brain size as a correlate of intelligence
2
: a phenomenon that accompanies another phenomenon, is usually parallel to it, and is related in some way to it
… precise electrical correlates of conscious thinking in the human brain …—
Bayard Webster
Bayard Webster
correlate
adjective
cor·re·late
ˈkȯr-ə-ˌlāt
ˈkär-
correlated; correlating
: to bear reciprocal or mutual relations : correspond
If two things correlate, a change in one thing results in a similar or opposite change in the other thing.
1
a
: to establish a mutual or reciprocal relation between
correlate activities in the lab and the field
b
: to show correlation or a causal relationship between
There is no evidence correlating the cracking of one's knuckles and development of osteoarthritis.
2
: to present or set forth so as to show relationship
He correlates the findings of the scientists, the psychologists, and the mystics.—Eugene Exman
Eugene ExmanSynonyms
Examples of correlate in a Sentence
Noun
brain size as a correlate of intelligence
the often uneasy relationship between the employer and his correlate, the employee
Verb
There is no evidence correlating height and intelligence.
a demanding father who always correlated success with hard work
Recent Examples on the WebCallum McLennan, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024
Nonetheless, significant work has occurred on some of the neuronal correlates of REM sleeping in rodents and songbirds.
—Malcolm MacIver, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023
However, the evening wasn’t entirely unsatisfying: The neuroscientist Christof Koch of the Allen Institute for Brain Science conceded a 25-year-old bet with the philosopher David Chalmers of New York University that the neural correlates of consciousness would have been identified by now.
—Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
Neuroscientists have identified a number of neural correlates of consciousness—brain states associated with specific mental states—but have not explained how matter forms minds in the first place.
—Dan Falk, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2023
Koch admitted that these results showed that no clear neural correlates had been found.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
Nailing down the neural correlates of consciousness, even if it can be done, won't necessarily show how consciousness emerges from matter.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
The upshot was that despite the wealth of experimental data gathered to study the correlates of consciousness, the uncertainties gave theorists room to claim that the data supported their preferred explanations.
—Elizabeth Finkel, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2023
Although researchers have identified neural correlates of consciousness — brain activity that marks conscious experience — there’s no guarantee those correlates will be the same in organoids as in humans.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Brenda Goodman, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
His presence in the lineup has directly correlated with the Warriors’ 22-10 record since January 31.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
That decline in diet correlated with the collapse of sardine fisheries on the Pacific Coast, revealing how overfishing was harming species throughout the ecosystem.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
That article looked at how Karsan knew that financial returns were highly correlated with employee engagement.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Share [Findings] The playing speed of a metal guitarist directly correlates with his intrasexual competitiveness but not his mating success.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Homeownership didn’t correlate strongly with the performance of McCarty or Pan.
Elections officials divided the city of Sacramento into 185 consolidated precincts for the March primary.
—Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
Has this enthusiasm measure correlated at all with winning and losing elections?
Marquette began asking this question in the 2014 election cycle and continued in every election year since then, except 2016.
—Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024
This means only one or the other of a pair of interacting atoms can sustain a Rydberg state at any moment; their quantum states are correlated — or in other words, entangled.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
This pull-back correlates with the growing insistence from investors for profitability, shifting streamers’ business tactics.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024
Nonetheless, significant work has occurred on some of the neuronal correlates of REM sleeping in rodents and songbirds.
—Malcolm MacIver, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023
However, the evening wasn’t entirely unsatisfying: The neuroscientist Christof Koch of the Allen Institute for Brain Science conceded a 25-year-old bet with the philosopher David Chalmers of New York University that the neural correlates of consciousness would have been identified by now.
—Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
Neuroscientists have identified a number of neural correlates of consciousness—brain states associated with specific mental states—but have not explained how matter forms minds in the first place.
—Dan Falk, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2023
Koch admitted that these results showed that no clear neural correlates had been found.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
Nailing down the neural correlates of consciousness, even if it can be done, won't necessarily show how consciousness emerges from matter.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
The upshot was that despite the wealth of experimental data gathered to study the correlates of consciousness, the uncertainties gave theorists room to claim that the data supported their preferred explanations.
—Elizabeth Finkel, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2023
Although researchers have identified neural correlates of consciousness — brain activity that marks conscious experience — there’s no guarantee those correlates will be the same in organoids as in humans.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Verb
Lower levels correlate with better longevity. glucose: With age, blood sugar stays higher for longer after meals.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
His presence in the lineup has directly correlated with the Warriors’ 22-10 record since January 31.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
That decline in diet correlated with the collapse of sardine fisheries on the Pacific Coast, revealing how overfishing was harming species throughout the ecosystem.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
That article looked at how Karsan knew that financial returns were highly correlated with employee engagement.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Share [Findings] The playing speed of a metal guitarist directly correlates with his intrasexual competitiveness but not his mating success.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Homeownership didn’t correlate strongly with the performance of McCarty or Pan.
Elections officials divided the city of Sacramento into 185 consolidated precincts for the March primary.
—Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
Has this enthusiasm measure correlated at all with winning and losing elections?
Marquette began asking this question in the 2014 election cycle and continued in every election year since then, except 2016.
—Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024
This means only one or the other of a pair of interacting atoms can sustain a Rydberg state at any moment; their quantum states are correlated — or in other words, entangled.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'correlate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near correlate
Cite this Entry
“Correlate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correlate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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