error bar

noun

: the estimated uncertainty in experimental data

Examples of error bar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most rigorous work is academic, and its central conclusion is that everyone else's numbers need error bars. — Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

That said, there’s enough uncertainty with the team’s direction that the error bars are wide here. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 5 June 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for error bar

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar