accuracy

accuracy — noun

1. the quality of being free from errors and matching the truth — for example, when

1.nounB2
Definition

the quality of being free from errors and matching the truth — for example, when a report's numbers are right, or when a translation faithfully reflects what was originally said.

Example

Reporters must check the accuracy of every fact before the story goes to print.

accuracy of + noun phrase

Sami doubted the accuracy of the weather forecast after three rainy days in a row.

accuracy of [something predictive]

Common collocations
  • check the accuracy
  • doubt the accuracy
  • verify the accuracy
  • factual accuracy
  • historical accuracy
Synonyms
  • correctness

    more about being right on a single point; 'accuracy' often covers a whole report or set of facts

  • exactness

    stresses precise matching of a value; 'accuracy' is broader and works for facts as well as numbers

  • truthfulness

    implies honest intent; 'accuracy' is neutral about intent and only judges the result

Antonyms
  • inaccuracy

    the direct opposite — the presence of mistakes or wrong details

  • error

    a single wrong item rather than the overall quality

Grammar Patterns

accuracy of [something]

with accuracy

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable. Frequently appears as 'the accuracy of [a claim, report, figure, translation]' when judging whether information matches reality. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense judges information; sense 2 judges performance of a skill.

Common Mistakes

I want to check accuracies of these numbers.
I want to check the accuracy of these numbers.
accuracy is uncountable; do not pluralise.
The report has a high accurate.
The report has a high level of accuracy.
use the noun 'accuracy', not the adjective 'accurate'.

2. the ability of a person, machine, or weapon to do a task neatly and hit what is

2.nounB2
Definition

the ability of a person, machine, or weapon to do a task neatly and hit what is aimed at, with very few mistakes — typing fast without typos, throwing a dart into the centre, or shooting a ball into the goal.

Example

Nia can throw a basketball into the hoop with amazing accuracy.

with + accuracy (skill)

The young pianist played the difficult piece with both speed and accuracy.

speed and accuracy (paired)

Common collocations
  • pinpoint accuracy
  • deadly accuracy
  • shooting accuracy
  • typing accuracy
  • passing accuracy
Synonyms
  • precision

    stresses very fine, repeatable movements; 'accuracy' stresses hitting the correct target

  • marksmanship

    specifically the skill of shooting; 'accuracy' covers any aimed action

  • deftness

    graceful skill of the hands; 'accuracy' focuses on results, not the look of the movement

Antonyms
  • clumsiness

    describes awkward movement that often misses the target

  • sloppiness

    careless work full of small mistakes

Grammar Patterns

with accuracy

accuracy in [doing something]

Usage Note

Often paired with 'speed' to judge performance ('speed and accuracy'). Subjects are typically people doing skilled work or machines/weapons aimed at a target. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense rates how well an action is performed, not whether information is true.

Common Mistakes

She types in accuracy.
She types with accuracy.
the manner preposition is 'with', not 'in'.
His accuracy on shooting is great.
His accuracy in shooting is great.' / 'His shooting accuracy is great.
use 'in + activity' or a compound noun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words concern being right, but they answer different questions. 'Accuracy' asks whether something matches the truth or hits the intended target; a weather forecast can have high accuracy if its predictions come true. 'Precision' asks how fine and repeatable a measurement is; a scale that always reads 4.231 kg has high precision, but only high accuracy if the object truly weighs that much. 'Correctness' is the most everyday word and usually applies to single answers — the correctness of a maths solution. 'Exactness' stresses an unforgiving, to-the-letter match, often of numbers or wording. So you might say, 'The report's accuracy was confirmed by independent checks,' but, 'The watchmaker works with great precision.'

accuracy ↗precision ↗correctnessexactness

Common collocations

Nouns

  • accuracy of a report
  • accuracy of a measurement
  • accuracy of a translation
  • accuracy of a forecast

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a high degree of accuracy
  • a level of accuracy
  • with pinpoint accuracy
  • speed and accuracy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Borrowed into English in the mid-1600s from Latin 'accuratus', meaning 'done with care'. That Latin word came from 'ad-' (to) plus 'cura' (care), so the original idea was that something carefully looked after would naturally turn out exact and correct. The same root gives us 'curate' and 'cure'.