point estimate

noun

: the single value assigned to a parameter in point estimation

Examples of point estimate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The margin of error for whole-sample point estimates is approximately +/- 3 percent, larger for subsets. Marybeth Gasman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 For this case, the model’s point estimate of eventual cumulative U.S. deaths from Covid-19 was close to 1.1 million. Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 24 May 2021 The uncertainty around a point estimate can be small or large. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021 One vaccine may have a higher point estimate than another, but their confidence intervals may overlap. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021 This is because simply selecting a few point estimates and plugging them into the Drake Equation misrepresents the state of our knowledge. Liv Boeree, Vox, 3 July 2018 Moreover, at that point estimates were only down slightly from the start of the quarter, showing far less erosion than typically occurs. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of point estimate was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Point estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20estimate. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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