calculation
noun
cal·cu·la·tion
ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən 
1
a
: the process or an act of calculating
b
: the result of an act of calculating
2
a
: studied care in analyzing or planning
b
: cold heartless planning to promote self-interest
Examples of calculation in a Sentence
According to experts' calculations, that star will explode within two billion years.
The computer can do millions of calculations each second.
Careful calculation is required to determine the required amount of fuel.
The book reveals the cold calculations that were behind the government's policies.
His positions are based on political calculation of what voters want to hear.
Recent Examples on the Web
What initiatives, clients, and/or offerings weigh the most in your performance evaluation, raise and bonus calculations and promotion decisions?
—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Her son simply made a statistical calculation based on probability theory and realized that the odds of both lunches being wrong were considerably different from the odds of a single order getting messed up.
—Rob Long, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Factors involved in the calculation, according to Homendy, include everything from data on the speed and traffic of vessels in the water to bridge and water channel geometry.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Tech companies are now packing GPUs — which are ideal for running the calculations that power A.I. — as tightly as possible into specialized computers.
—Cade Metz, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calculation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Her son simply made a statistical calculation based on probability theory and realized that the odds of both lunches being wrong were considerably different from the odds of a single order getting messed up.
—Rob Long, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Factors involved in the calculation, according to Homendy, include everything from data on the speed and traffic of vessels in the water to bridge and water channel geometry.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Tech companies are now packing GPUs — which are ideal for running the calculations that power A.I. — as tightly as possible into specialized computers.
—Cade Metz, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calculation
Cite this Entry
“Calculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calculation. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calculation
noun
cal·cu·la·tion
ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən
1
a
: the process or an act of calculating
b
: the result obtained by calculation
2
: care in planning : caution
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share