What is the difference between accurate and precise?
accurate | precise |
In exact or careful conformity to truth; the result of care or pains; free from failure, error, or defect; exact; as, an accurate'' calculator; an ''accurate'' measure; ''accurate expression, knowledge, etc.
*
Deviating only slightly or within acceptable limits.
(obsolete) Precisely fixed; executed with care; careful.
* Bacon
Exact, accurate.
*
(sciences) Of experimental results, consistent, clustered close together, agreeing with each other. This does not mean that they cluster near the true, correct, or accurate value.
* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
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Precise is a synonym of accurate.
As adjectives the difference between accurate and precise
is that accurate is in exact or careful conformity to truth; the result of care or pains; free from failure, error, or defect; exact; as, an accurate calculator; an accurate measure; accurate expression, knowledge, etc while precise is exact, accurate.accurate
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- For more than 90% of the figures (mostly drawn during 1976-1990), either a scale, or the given magnification, will allow the user to derive accurate measurements, even when these are lacking in the diagnosis.
- Those conceive the celestial bodies have more accurate influences upon these things below.
Usage notes
* We speak of a thing as correct' with reference to some rule or standard of comparison; as, a '''correct''' account, a '''correct''' likeness, a man of ' correct deportment. * We speak of a thing as accurate' with reference to the care bestowed upon its execution, and the increased correctness to be expected therefrom; as, an '''accurate''' statement, an ' accurate detail of particulars. * We speak of a thing as exact' with reference to that perfected state of a thing in which there is no defect and no redundancy; as, an '''exact''' coincidence, the '''exact''' truth, an ' exact likeness. * We speak of a thing as precise' when we think of it as strictly conformed to some rule or model, as if ''cut down'' thereto; as a '''precise''' conformity instructions; '''precisely''' right; he was very ' precise in giving his directions.Synonyms
* correct * exact * just * nice * particularAntonyms
* inaccurateDerived terms
* accuracy * accuratelyAnagrams
* ----precise
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Adjective
(en adjective)Snakes and ladders, passage=Risk is everywhere.