error bar

noun

: the estimated uncertainty in experimental data

Examples of error bar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Astronomy is rarely an exact science; the error bars are often big. Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026 The error bars on these estimates are pretty large—literally five times the mass of the Sun. ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2026 That accounts for the plus-or-minus 0.05-arc-second error bar on any calculation of the solar radius. Ryan French, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for error bar

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of error bar was in 1968

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Cite this Entry

“Error bar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/error%20bar. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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