WordGarden.ioestimation
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌɛstɪmˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌɛstəˈmeɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the act of judging an approximate amount, value, or size
an approximate calculated amount or value
a personal opinion or judgment about something
More meaningsFewer meanings
a statistical method of inferring an unknown value from data
respect or favorable regard for someone or something
Beyond the definition
Estimation is not about knowing the exact number. It is about making a smart, informed guess. Imagine you are baking cookies for a school bake sale and need to know roughly how many chocolate chips you have left in the bag. You do not count every single one. Instead, you make a quick guess, maybe by looking at how full the bag is or by counting a small handful and using that to work out the rest.
Estimation is used everywhere, from scientists predicting weather patterns to builders figuring out how much material they need for a project. It is about being "close enough" when an exact answer is not needed or is not possible. A good estimation can save time, money, and effort. Think of it as a helpful shortcut that lets you understand the world around you without getting stuck on every tiny detail.
Estimation is the process of finding an approximate value for something—a quantity, amount, or size—when determining its precise value is impractical, impossible, or unnecessary. It's more than just a random guess; a good estimation relies on available information, logical reasoning, and sometimes even a bit of professional intuition.
You might estimate the cost of groceries while walking through the aisles, the time it will take to drive across town during rush hour, or the number of people attending a local event. In mathematics, estimation is a vital tool used to check if calculated answers are reasonable. For example, if you calculate that a house renovation will cost 2,000, you immediately know that something is off with your calculation!
Estimation plays a crucial role across many professional fields. Architects estimate building costs, scientists estimate the size of distant galaxies, and engineers estimate the weight-bearing capacity of bridges. Beyond numbers and measurements, "estimation" can also mean a person's judgment or opinion. If you hold someone in high estimation, it means you respect them greatly. Similarly, when you start a sentence with "In my estimation," you are giving your personal judgment on a matter.
While an exact answer is often ideal, "close enough" is frequently perfectly acceptable and sometimes even preferable for the sake of efficiency. Estimation allows us to make informed decisions quickly, helping us grasp the big picture and navigate the world with reasonable approximations rather than getting bogged down in exhaustive precision.
Examples
- 1
Repair costs
The engineer gave us an estimation of the repair costs before the work began.
- 2
Project planning
We need a more accurate estimation of how long the project will take.
- 3
Policy forecast
Early estimations suggested that the new policy would save money.
- 4
Personal opinion
In my estimation, the second plan is less risky.
- Phrasein my estimation
in my opinion
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- measurement
- exact figure
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- rough estimation
- cost estimation
- parameter estimation
- in my estimation
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- estimationnoun
Forms
- estimationspluralnoun