quartile

noun

quar·​tile ˈkwȯr-ˌtī(-ə)l 

-tᵊl

: any of the three values that divide the items of a frequency distribution into four classes with each containing one fourth of the total population

also : any one of the four classes

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A quartile is a quarter of a specific group that has been tested or evaluated in specific ways. The first quartile is the one that scores highest and the fourth quartile scores lowest. For achievement and proficiency tests, the first quartile is the place to be; for blood pressure or cholesterol, the third quartile is healthier.

Examples of quartile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to a study by McKinsey, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability, highlighting the value of diverse thought in fostering innovation. —Roshni Wijayasinha, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

However, women still dominate the lower pay quartiles leading to their overall average hourly pay being 24.8% lower than men's. —Caroline Reid, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024

Companies in the bottom quartile of executive diversity on gender and ethnicity underperform all other companies by 27%. —Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2024

Companies in the third quartile received a score of four. —Michelle Travis, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin quartus

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above