analysis

noun

anal·​y·​sis ə-ˈna-lə-səs 

plural analyses ə-ˈna-lə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: a detailed examination of anything complex in order to understand its nature or to determine its essential features : a thorough study

doing a careful analysis of the problem

b

: a statement of such an examination

2

: separation of a whole into its component parts

3

a

: the identification or separation of ingredients of a substance

a chemical analysis of the soil

b

: a statement of the constituents of a mixture

4

mathematics

a

: proof of a mathematical proposition by assuming the result and deducing a valid statement by a series of reversible steps

b(1)

: a branch of mathematics concerned mainly with limits, continuity, and infinite series

(2)

: calculus sense 1b

5

: psychoanalysis

a patient who is in/undergoing analysis

6

a

: a method in philosophy of resolving complex expressions into simpler or more basic ones

b

: clarification of an expression by an elucidation of its use in discourse

7

linguistics : the use of function words instead of inflectional forms as a characteristic device of a language

Synonyms

• anatomizing
• anatomy
• assay
• breakdown
• deconstruction
• dissection

Examples of analysis in a Sentence

His analyses expose hidden fractures with the clarity of an X-ray, and his rhetorical skill, though modulated in a journalistic style, owes much to the give and take of Euripides' crisp dialogue. —G. W. Bowersock, New York Review of Books, 6 Nov. 2008

In order to depict economic decisions mathematically, economists needed to assume that human behavior is both rational and predictable. They imagined a representative human, Homo economicus, endowed with consistent preferences, stable moods, and an enviable ability to make only rational decisions. This sleight of hand yielded some theories that had genuine predictive value, but economists were obliged to exclude from their analyses many phenomena that didn't fit the … framework, such as stock-market bubbles, drug addiction, and compulsive shopping. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 18 Sept. 2006

Thus little more than a month before the convention was due to assemble in Philadelphia, James Madison fashioned a powerful and comprehensive analysis of the problems of federalism and republicanism. —Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings, 1996

Thanks to some pioneering studies, and an increasing body of editions, translations, and detailed analyses, we now have a good general picture of the spiritual culture of late-medieval women on the Continent, especially in the Low Countries and Germany. —Nicholas Watsons, Speculum, July 1993

a scientific analysis of the data

make a chemical analysis of the soil

a detailed analysis of the bone structure of horses

performing chemical analysis of the soil

The newspaper printed an analysis of each candidate's positions.

That's not a bad analysis of the situation.

It's a problem that requires careful analysis.

He has been in analysis for many years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024

An analysis of data from nearly 15,000 people revealed that running, biking, climbing stairs or brisk walking for just those few minutes can have a positive effect on blood pressure. —Linda Carroll, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

The filing also includes management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, as well as details on the Trust's controls and procedures. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024

However, the analysis can’t indicate exactly where the point of mislabeling is happening. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin, borrowed from Greek análysis "loosing, releasing, breaking something down into its elements, solution of a problem," from analýein "to loosen, undo, dissolve, resolve into constituent elements," from ana- ana- + lýein "to loosen, undo" — more at lose

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing analysis

• activation analysis
• analysis of variance
• analysis situs
• cluster analysis
• content analysis
• defy analysis
• discourse analysis
• factor analysis
• Fourier analysis
• harmonic analysis
• high analysis
• in the final/last analysis
• meta-analysis
• neutron activation analysis
• numerical analysis
• philosophical analysis
• qualitative analysis
• quantitative analysis
• self-analysis
• systems analysis
• transactional analysis

Kids Definition

analysis

noun

anal·​y·​sis ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

plural analyses -ə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: an examination of a whole to discover its elements and their relations

b

: a statement of such an analysis

2

: an explanation of the nature and meaning of something

analysis of the news

3

: the identification or separation of the parts of a substance

4

: psychoanalysis

Etymology

derived from Greek, from analyein "to break up," from ana- "up" and lyein "to loosen"

Medical Definition

analysis

noun

anal·​y·​sis ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

plural analyses -ˌsēz 

1

: separation of a whole into its component parts

2

a

: the identification or separation of ingredients of a substance

b

: a statement of the constituents of a mixture

3

: psychoanalysis