precision
exactness and accuracy
In more detail
1. (noun) the quality of being exact and accurate
2. (noun) the degree to which something is measured or stated exactly
Examples
- 1. The surgeon worked with great precision to avoid damaging healthy tissue.
- 2. GPS can determine your location with a precision of within a few meters.
How to use precision
Precision emphasizes the quality of being exact and careful in detail, often in technical or scientific contexts. It differs from accuracy in that precision refers to consistency and exactness, while accuracy refers to correctness. The word carries a neutral to formal tone and is common in professional, academic, and technical settings.
Common phrases
- high precision
- precision engineering
- mathematical precision
- surgical precision
- with precision
- loss of precision
Synonyms
accuracy · exactness · exactitude · meticulousness · specificity
Opposites
vagueness · imprecision · approximation
Word family
precise (adjective) · precisely (adverb) · imprecise (adjective) · precisely (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse precision with accuracy; precision is about how exact or detailed something is, while accuracy is about how correct it is.
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