frequency

noun

fre·​quen·​cy ˈfrē-kwən(t)-sē 

plural frequencies

1

: the fact or condition of occurring frequently

the frequency of automobile accidents

2

a

: the number of times that a periodic function repeats the same sequence of values during a unit variation of the independent variable

b

: the number, proportion, or percentage of items in a particular category in a set of data

3

: the number of repetitions of a periodic process in a unit of time: such as

a

: the number of complete alternations (see alternation sense 1) per second of an alternating current

b

: the number of complete oscillations (see oscillation sense 3) per second of energy (such as sound or electromagnetic radiation) in the form of waves

Synonyms

• commonness
• frequence
• frequentness
• prevalence

Examples of frequency in a Sentence

the alarming frequency of serious automobile accidents caused by young drivers

The frequency of student errors was frustrating to the young teacher.

Our visits decreased in frequency.

Errors were occurring with increasing frequency.

a sound wave of high frequency

waves having very different frequencies from one another

a current having a frequency of 60 hertz

a radio frequency of 30 megahertz

Recent Examples on the Web

More intense extreme rainfall events also increase the frequency and scale of flash flooding as the influx of water is more than the infrastructure was built to handle. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024

One way to do that is to plot the relationship between frequency and wavenumber—the number of wave cycles that fit within one unit cell of the crystal’s lattice. —Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024

The type of alcohol doesn’t matter, but rather the frequency of your consumption, according to Sameer Amin, MD, a cardiologist and chief medical officer at L.A. Care Health Plan. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2024

Supplements can have varying effects depending on dosage, frequency, and medication interactions. 5. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Apr. 2024

Political candidates across the country are being assassinated with staggering frequency as the powerful groups seek to clear the field for their preferred picks. —David Shortell, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

The frequency and intensity of these major floods are expected to increase with climate change. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

As a result, the researchers don’t know all of the factors that affect the difference in orgasm frequency between lesbians and heterosexual women. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

The average overall activity is a mix of many different frequencies, with the five main ones called delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma waves. —Giridhar Kalamangalam, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing frequency

• extremely high frequency
• extremely low frequency
• frequency distribution
• frequency modulation
• frequency response
• gene frequency
• high frequency
• low frequency
• medium frequency
• radio frequency
• superhigh frequency
• ultrahigh frequency
• very high frequency
• very low frequency

Kids Definition

frequency

noun

fre·​quen·​cy ˈfrē-kwən-sē 

plural frequencies

1

: the fact or condition of happening often

2

: how often something happens : rate of repetition

3

: the number of repetitions of a periodic process in a unit of time: as

a

: the number of times per second that an electric current flowing in one direction changes direction then changes back

a current having a frequency of 60 hertz

b

: the number of waves (as of sound or electromagnetic energy) that pass a fixed point each second

a sound having a frequency of 1500 hertz

the frequency of yellow light

4

: the number or proportion of one kind of item in a group

the frequency of chocolate doughnuts in the box

Medical Definition

frequency

noun

fre·​quen·​cy ˈfrē-kwən-sē 

plural frequencies

1

: the number of individuals in a single class when objects are classified according to variations in a set of one or more specified attributes

2

: the number of repetitions of a periodic process in a unit of time