What does statistic mean?
A statistic is a numerical fact or measurement used to summarize, compare, or describe something. The word is especially common in reports, research, journalism, business, and public discussion, where individual figures help reveal patterns or changes in a larger body of information. For example, a statistic might describe population growth, consumer spending, weather patterns, or educational attainment. In formal usage, a statistic is generally counted as a singular countable noun: one statistic, two statistics. The plural statistics also has the established sense of the systematic collection and study of numerical data, as in official statistics or the field of statistics. Although every statistic is based on data, the two terms are not interchangeable: data are the information or observations used in an analysis, while a statistic is a summarized numerical result derived from that information.
nounA numerical fact or measurement that is used to describe a situation, population, or phenomenon. In the plural, it can also refer to the systematic collection and study of such data.
- A numerical fact or measurement used to characterize or summarize something.
"The report included an important statistic about the decline in household energy use."
"Rising demand was reflected in a key statistic published by the industry association."
"The teacher used the statistic to illustrate how the figure had changed over time."
Use the plural for multiple numerical results or for the systematic collection and study of numerical data.
"Official statistics indicate that employment increased during the first quarter."
The word statistic comes from a Greek term associated with measuring and describing a state of affairs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of statistic
The word comes through German Statistik, ultimately from Greek statistikos, meaning “pertaining to measuring” or “pertaining to statistics.” Its deeper roots connect with the Greek word statos, “standing” or “state,” from which words such as status, state, and station also developed. In English, statistic developed from the field of statistical description and was later applied to an individual numerical result.
Related word forms
How statistic is actually used
In careful usage, a statistic is a single numerical fact or measurement, whereas statistics can refer to a collection of numerical data or to the discipline that studies such data. In informal contexts, statistics may also be used loosely for information presented in numerical form.
Easily confused with statistic
A statistic is an individual numerical finding, while data refers more broadly to the information or measurements from which such findings may be calculated.