meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌme-tə-ə-ˈna-lə-səs 

: a quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance

Examples of meta-analysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Several meta-analysis studies have tested this hypothesis and found that no link exists between vaccines and chronic disease. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2025

An extensive meta-analysis of 185 studies found that people who ate the highest level of fiber (between 25 and 29 g) were less likely to have certain conditions than those who ate the lowest amount of fiber. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2025

For example, here’s a graph from a 2024 meta-analysis of 218 RCTs with a total of over 14,000 participants, in the British Journal of Medicine: Dots that are farther to the left indicate how much a treatment aided depression compared to a control group. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 9 Feb. 2025

The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies on cold-water immersion. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meta-analysis

• haemodialysis
• hemodialysis
• microanalysis
• psychoanalysis
• analysis
• dialysis
• paralysis
• cryptanalysis
• urinalysis
• electrodialysis

Medical Definition

meta-analysis

noun

meta-anal·​y·​sis ˌmet-ə-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

: quantitative statistical analysis that is applied to separate but similar experiments of different and usually independent researchers and that involves pooling the data and using the pooled data to test the effectiveness of the results

the report … on low cholesterol presented a comprehensive meta-analysis of 32 randomized studies involving 42,000 individuals

—Scientific American Medicine Bulletin