correlation
UK: ˌkɒr.əˈleɪ.ʃən | US: ˌkɔːr.əˈleɪ.ʃən
n. a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things
n. (statistics) a measure of the extent to which two variables change together
correlation = cor<together> + relation<connection>
- cor (from Latin com-, meaning "together")
- relation (from Latin relatio, meaning "connection" or "bringing back")
Etymology Origin:
The word correlation emerged in the 16th century, derived from Medieval Latin correlatio, which combined com- (intensifying "together") and relatio (connection). It originally described a mutual interdependence, later adopted in statistics to quantify how variables move in tandem. The prefix cor- subtly emphasizes joint action, while relation anchors the concept in linkage—a logical pairing for describing interconnected phenomena.
There is a strong correlation between smoking and lung disease.
The study examined the correlation between income levels and education.
Correlation does not necessarily imply causation.
Researchers found a negative correlation between exercise and stress.
The graph shows the correlation between temperature and ice cream sales.