correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən 
ˌkär-
1
: the state or relation of being correlated
specifically
: a relation existing between phenomena or things or between mathematical or statistical variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together in a way not expected on the basis of chance alone
… the obviously high positive correlation between scholastic aptitude and college entrance … —
James B. Conant
James B. Conant 2
: the act of correlating
Examples of correlation in a Sentence
the correlation of brain size and intelligence
Researchers have found a direct correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
She says that there's no correlation between being thin and being happy.
Recent Examples on the Web
But even putting that aside, the real direct correlation between guild awards and the Oscars is with predicting the nominations, not the winners.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
Researching Personal Health For some researchers, there’s more to finding a simple correlation between food preference and temperament.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Gold has a low correlation with traditional assets like stocks and bonds, meaning its price often moves independently of broader markets.
—Gabriel O Rodríguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
This correlation showed the risk the states would have on both imports and exports to the three countries.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
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Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
Researching Personal Health For some researchers, there’s more to finding a simple correlation between food preference and temperament.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Gold has a low correlation with traditional assets like stocks and bonds, meaning its price often moves independently of broader markets.
—Gabriel O Rodríguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
This correlation showed the risk the states would have on both imports and exports to the three countries.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
Cite this Entry
“Correlation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correlation. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən
ˌkär-
1
: the act or process of correlating
2
: the state of being correlated
especially
: a mutual relation discovered to exist between things
the correlation between smoking and lung cancer
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