correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən 
ˌkär-
1
: the state or relation of being correlated
specifically
: a relation existing between phenomena or things or between mathematical or statistical variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together in a way not expected on the basis of chance alone
… the obviously high positive correlation between scholastic aptitude and college entrance … —
James B. Conant
James B. Conant 2
: the act of correlating
Examples of correlation in a Sentence
the correlation of brain size and intelligence
Researchers have found a direct correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
She says that there's no correlation between being thin and being happy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Please note that the correlation 1D_5D indicates the relationship between 1D post-earnings returns and subsequent 5D returns.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Research shows there may be a potential correlation between having a higher VO2 max, and decreased risk for cardiovascular diseases, per Harvard Health.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 13 July 2025
Third base, which Chisholm didn’t practice at in the spring or the offseason, requires longer throws than second, but Boone said there wasn’t a correlation between the shoulder issue and the hot corner.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Kovacs agrees that there is a distinct correlation between height and a big serve, noting that the best players across the men’s and women’s games are now getting taller on average – a trend also seen across several other professional sports, such as basketball.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Research shows there may be a potential correlation between having a higher VO2 max, and decreased risk for cardiovascular diseases, per Harvard Health.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 13 July 2025
Third base, which Chisholm didn’t practice at in the spring or the offseason, requires longer throws than second, but Boone said there wasn’t a correlation between the shoulder issue and the hot corner.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Kovacs agrees that there is a distinct correlation between height and a big serve, noting that the best players across the men’s and women’s games are now getting taller on average – a trend also seen across several other professional sports, such as basketball.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for correlation
Cite this Entry
“Correlation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correlation. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
correlation
noun
cor·re·la·tion
ˌkȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən
ˌkär-
1
: the act or process of correlating
2
: the state of being correlated
especially
: a mutual relation discovered to exist between things
the correlation between smoking and lung cancer
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