1
: the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
Examples of sigma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pros and Cons of Being a Sigma If your child identifies as a sigma, what exactly does that mean?
—
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 13 Aug. 2024
The fruit fly where wMel comes from also carries sigma-virus, a type that Wolbachia does nothing to protect against.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2012
According to the group’s calculations, the Planck data point to a closed universe with a standard deviation of 3.5 sigma (a statistical measurement that means about 99.8% confidence that the result isn’t due to random chance).
—Rafi Letzter, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2019
Thomson and his team must reach five-sigma certainty to definitively claim a discovery.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 May 2015
Historically, most industrial companies operate between three and four sigma, making them between 93% and 99.3% defect-free (these figures can vary slightly depending on the statistical model).
—Oliver Staley, Quartz at Work, 3 Sep. 2019
The gold standard for discovery is a five-sigma result, comparable to tossing 21 heads in a row.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 18 July 2013
Through regular reports released under the name sigma, the company offers a lens into the changing trends of the insurance world.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 17 Apr. 2019
Typically, only five sigma is needed to call something a discovery.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 28 June 2018
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.
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 13 Aug. 2024
The fruit fly where wMel comes from also carries sigma-virus, a type that Wolbachia does nothing to protect against.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2012
According to the group’s calculations, the Planck data point to a closed universe with a standard deviation of 3.5 sigma (a statistical measurement that means about 99.8% confidence that the result isn’t due to random chance).
—Rafi Letzter, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2019
Thomson and his team must reach five-sigma certainty to definitively claim a discovery.
—Quanta Magazine, 14 May 2015
Historically, most industrial companies operate between three and four sigma, making them between 93% and 99.3% defect-free (these figures can vary slightly depending on the statistical model).
—Oliver Staley, Quartz at Work, 3 Sep. 2019
The gold standard for discovery is a five-sigma result, comparable to tossing 21 heads in a row.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 18 July 2013
Through regular reports released under the name sigma, the company offers a lens into the changing trends of the insurance world.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 17 Apr. 2019
Typically, only five sigma is needed to call something a discovery.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 28 June 2018
Articles Related to sigma
Dictionary Entries Near sigma
Cite this Entry
“Sigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sigma. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sigma
noun
sig·ma
ˈsig-mə 
: the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet
—Σ or σ or ς
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share