point estimate

noun

: the single value assigned to a parameter in point estimation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For this case, the model’s point estimate of eventual cumulative U.S. deaths from Covid-19 was close to 1.1 million. Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 24 May 2021 The uncertainty around a point estimate can be small or large. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021 One vaccine may have a higher point estimate than another, but their confidence intervals may overlap. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021 This is because simply selecting a few point estimates and plugging them into the Drake Equation misrepresents the state of our knowledge. Liv Boeree, Vox, 3 July 2018 Moreover, at that point estimates were only down slightly from the start of the quarter, showing far less erosion than typically occurs. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of point estimate was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near point estimate

Cite this Entry

“Point estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20estimate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

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