meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌme-tə-ə-ˈna-lə-səs 

: a quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance

Examples of meta-analysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mentoring has been associated with positive outcomes across social, emotional, behavioral, and academic areas of youth development according to a meta-analysis of more than 73 independent mentoring programs. —Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The research was a meta-analysis, reviewing 33 studies involving more than 96,000 adults. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 studies published in the journal Sports Medicine, Dr. Willy and his colleagues found no major physiological differences between running on the treadmill and what researchers call overground running at most speeds. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 2 Dec. 2024

Some studies, such as a 2014 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggest wearing compression garments during a tough exercise session can decrease levels of creatine kinase, a marker of muscle damage. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌmet-ə-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

: quantitative statistical analysis that is applied to separate but similar experiments of different and usually independent researchers and that involves pooling the data and using the pooled data to test the effectiveness of the results

the report … on low cholesterol presented a comprehensive meta-analysis of 32 randomized studies involving 42,000 individuals

—Scientific American Medicine Bulletin