frequency distribution

noun

: an arrangement of statistical data that exhibits the frequency of the occurrence of the values of a variable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Normally the frequency distribution of deleterious alleles is skewed toward the low end, presumably because purifying selection is constantly tamping down the upward fluctuations in frequency. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2011

Strong bottlenecks may be needed to drive wholesale extinction of once common alleles (or the fixation of those at moderate frequencies), but mild bottlenecks may nevertheless perturb the allele frequency distribution. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2013

Within limits Calculating these upper and lower bounds for different lakes produces a frequency distribution for both the upper and lower bounds of the precipitation needed to produce appropriately sized runoff events. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 Aug. 2020

Super pantries are high-volume, high-frequency distribution sites that have signed on to pass out food at least three times a week until Dec. 31. —Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

frequency distribution

noun

: a diagram that shows the frequency of different values of a variable in statistics