plural analyses
-əˌsiːz
1
a
: a careful study of something to learn about its parts, what they do, and how they are related to each other
a scientific analysis of the data
make/do/perform a chemical analysis of the soil
a detailed analysis of the bone structure of horses
performing chemical analysis of the soil
b
: an explanation of the nature and meaning of something
The newspaper printed an analysis of each candidate's positions.
That's not a bad analysis of the situation.
It's a problem that requires careful analysis.
a problem that defies analysis [=a problem that cannot be easily understood or explained]
2
: psychoanalysis
He has been in/undergoing analysis for many years.
Cite this Entry
“Analysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/analysis. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.
Copy Citation
