standard deviation
Pronunciation
Noun
B2 Upper-intermediate
Quick answer
A measure of how spread out a set of numbers is around their average.
Usage notes
A small standard deviation means the data points cluster close to the mean, while a large one means they're spread widely.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "The test scores had a low _____, meaning most students performed similarly."
Answer: standard deviation
In your own words, what does "standard deviation" mean?
A measure of how spread out a set of numbers is around their average.
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