law of large numbers

noun phrase

: a theorem in mathematical statistics: the probability that the absolute value of the difference between the mean of a population sample and the mean of the population from which it is drawn is greater than an arbitrarily small amount approaches zero as the size of the sample approaches infinity

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of law of large numbers was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Law of large numbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law%20of%20large%20numbers. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on law of large numbers

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!