statistical

UK: stəˈtɪstɪkəl | US: stəˈtɪstɪkəl

Definition
  1. adj. relating to or based on statistics

  2. adj. involving numerical data analysis

Structure
stat <stand>ist <agent suffix>ical <adjective suffix>
Etymology

statistical = stat<stand> + ist<agent suffix> + ical<adjective suffix>

  • stat (from Latin stat-, root of stare "to stand") → Implies stability or fixed measurement.
  • ist (agent suffix, from Greek -istes) → Indicates a person or tool associated with an action (here, data collection/analysis).
  • ical (adjective suffix, from Latin -icalis) → Forms adjectives meaning "pertaining to."

Etymology Origin:
Derived from statistic (18th c.), originally referring to state-related data (German Statistik). The root stat- reflects the idea of "standing" or "fixed measurements," while -ist and -ical transform it into an adjective describing systematic data analysis. The word evolved from political science to broader quantitative disciplines.

Examples
  1. The report included statistical evidence to support its conclusions.

  2. She specializes in statistical modeling for healthcare research.

  3. The results were analyzed using statistical software.

  4. A basic understanding of statistical methods is essential for this course.

  5. The study lacked statistical significance due to its small sample size.