statistically

statistically — adverb

1. based on the collection, comparison, and analysis of numerical information rathe

1.adverbB2
Definition

based on the collection, comparison, and analysis of numerical information rather than on individual opinions or isolated examples.

Example

Statistically, women in most countries live about five years longer than men.

sentence adverb: 'Statistically, [clause]' for general truths

The clinical trial showed the drug was statistically effective for over ninety percent of patients.

collocation: statistically effective / statistically significant

Common collocations
  • statistically significant
  • statistically valid
  • statistically meaningful
  • statistically relevant
  • statistically proven
  • statistically speaking
Synonyms
  • numerically

    broader term — refers to any numbers without the formal collection and analysis methods of statistics

  • mathematically

    even broader — includes all types of mathematical calculation, not specifically statistical methods

  • by the numbers

    informal equivalent, common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • anecdotally

    based on individual stories or personal experience rather than numerical data

  • qualitatively

    based on qualities or observed characteristics rather than numerical measurement

Grammar Patterns

Statistically, [clause]

statistically + [adjective] (especially significant, valid, meaningful)

statistically speaking

Usage Note

Commonly used as a sentence adverb at the beginning of a clause ('Statistically, ...') or placed immediately before an adjective ('statistically significant', 'statistically valid'). The longer phrase 'statistically speaking' is an informal alternative common in conversation.

Common Mistakes

The results are statistics significant.
The results are statistically significant.
After the verb 'to be', use the adverb form 'statistically' to modify the adjective, not the noun 'statistics'.
Statistically, this is true' without providing any data.
Statistically, this pattern is supported by survey data from over a thousand households.
Claims introduced by 'statistically' should be grounded in actual numerical evidence, not just personal opinion.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three alternatives relate to how a claim is supported, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Numerically' is the closest in meaning — it simply means 'in terms of numbers', without the implication of formal sampling or hypothesis testing that 'statistically' carries. For example, you might say 'numerically, the group was smaller this year' even when no statistical method was used. 'Mathematically' is broader still, covering any area of mathematics: a proof can be mathematically correct without being statistical. 'By the numbers' is an informal phrase that works like a sentence adverb ('By the numbers, we are ahead of schedule') but lacks the precision of formal data analysis. Choose 'statistically' when the claim involves structured data collection and analysis; use 'numerically' when only a simple numerical comparison is intended; and save 'by the numbers' for casual spoken contexts.

numerically ↗mathematicallyby the numbers ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • statistically speaking

Etymology

LatinGermanEnglish

The word comes from 'statistic', which was borrowed from German 'Statistik' in the late 18th century. The German term was coined from New Latin 'statisticus' (meaning 'of state affairs'), itself from Latin 'status' (state, condition). In its early use, 'statistics' referred to data collected about the state and its population. The suffix '-ally' turns the adjective 'statistical' into an adverb. The modern meaning — analysis of numerical data in any field — developed during the 19th and early 20th centuries.