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

The one exception is for frame interpolation, which is labeled in the menus as MEMC and is set to medium by default. —PC Magazine, 29 July 2025

There's a dual scale system featuring 0.1-mm and 1/64-inch interpolation precisely laser etched. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 July 2025

Next up: 4K video output and seamless frame interpolation for smoother motion. —Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

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

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