interpolation

noun

in·​ter·​po·​la·​tion in-ˌtər-pə-ˈlā-shən 

plural interpolations

1

a

: an act of interpolating something or the state of being interpolated : the introduction or insertion of something spurious or foreign

… versions disfigured by the frequent and substantial interpolation of freely invented matter …

—Bernard Knox

b

: something that is introduced or inserted : an insertion or addition

How can such interpolations be identified, and what literary processes led to these additions?

—Jan Nattier

2

: the process of calculating an approximate value based on values that are already known

The age of tephras that were not directly dated was estimated by linear interpolation from the calibrated date.

—Richard J. Payne and Jeffrey J. Blackford

Examples of interpolation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the popular WhoSampled site that tracks samples, covers and interpolations throughout music history, Sly and the Family Stone is credited as having been sampled more than 1,000 times. —Dan Rys, Billboard, 9 June 2025

Read about the interpolation method used to create the contour maps. —Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025

In addition, the projector has a quick access menu to adjust settings for gaming, a low latency frame interpolation that's automatically activated in game mode, and more. —PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025

Just last week, a different version of the song, fronted by rapper Sleepy Hallow and built around an interpolation of Doechii’s original, peaked at No. 23. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing interpolation

• linear interpolation

Rhymes for interpolation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration