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frequency distribution
noun
: an arrangement of statistical data that exhibits the frequency of the occurrence of the values of a variable
Examples of frequency distribution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Normally the frequency distribution of deleterious alleles is skewed toward the low end, presumably because purifying selection is constantly tamping down the upward fluctuations in frequency.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2011
Strong bottlenecks may be needed to drive wholesale extinction of once common alleles (or the fixation of those at moderate frequencies), but mild bottlenecks may nevertheless perturb the allele frequency distribution.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2013
Within limits Calculating these upper and lower bounds for different lakes produces a frequency distribution for both the upper and lower bounds of the precipitation needed to produce appropriately sized runoff events.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 Aug. 2020
Super pantries are high-volume, high-frequency distribution sites that have signed on to pass out food at least three times a week until Dec. 31.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frequency distribution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1895, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of frequency distribution was
in 1895
Dictionary Entries Near frequency distribution
Cite this Entry
“Frequency distribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frequency%20distribution. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
frequency distribution
noun
: a diagram that shows the frequency of different values of a variable in statistics
More from Merriam-Webster on frequency distribution
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about frequency distribution
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