# normal distribution

noun
Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

## Definition of normal distribution

: a probability density function that approximates the distribution of many random variables (such as the proportion of outcomes of a particular kind in a large number of independent repetitions of an experiment in which the probabilities remain constant from trial to trial) and that has the form {latex}f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^{2}}}e^{-\frac{(x - \mu)^{2}}{2\sigma^{2}}}{/latex} where μ is the mean and σ is the standard deviation — compare normal curve

## Recent Examples of normal distribution from the Web

• Pick something like a normal distribution for step sizes and see if this same stuff works.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'normal distribution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

1897

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