correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən 
ˌkär-
1
: the state or relation of being correlated
specifically
: a relation existing between phenomena or things or between mathematical or statistical variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together in a way not expected on the basis of chance alone
… the obviously high positive correlation between scholastic aptitude and college entrance … —
James B. Conant
James B. Conant 2
: the act of correlating
Examples of correlation in a Sentence
the correlation of brain size and intelligence
Researchers have found a direct correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
She says that there's no correlation between being thin and being happy.
Recent Examples on the Web
This includes negative correlations between arrests and convictions, on the one hand, and retirement savings, on the other hand-- leaving this group less likely to have a retirement plan.
—Christian Weller, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
And all of us—users, voters, citizens—can demand that AI serve science and objective truth, not just correlations.
—Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
No correlation was found between preharvest burning and respiratory or cardiovascular health events during the study period.
—Olga Bolden-Tiller, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Rella Suskin, equity analyst at Morningstar, said that there appears to be a strong correlation between the market share of Chinese car brands across Europe and battery EV adoption rates.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
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Christian Weller, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
And all of us—users, voters, citizens—can demand that AI serve science and objective truth, not just correlations.
—Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
No correlation was found between preharvest burning and respiratory or cardiovascular health events during the study period.
—Olga Bolden-Tiller, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Rella Suskin, equity analyst at Morningstar, said that there appears to be a strong correlation between the market share of Chinese car brands across Europe and battery EV adoption rates.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
Cite this Entry
“Correlation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correlation. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən
ˌkär-
1
: the act or process of correlating
2
: the state of being correlated
especially
: a mutual relation discovered to exist between things
the correlation between smoking and lung cancer
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