Sigma Meaning and Definition
Sigma
Pronunciation
/ˈsɪɡmə/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A Greek letter (Σ) used to represent a mathematical constant or a statistical parameter, indicating the standard deviation or a precision value.
Examples
- The statistician used the sigma value to calculate the confidence interval.
- The manufacturing process was optimized to reduce the sigma value.
Synonyms
- Standard deviation
- Precision
Antonyms
- Variance
- Error tolerance
Etymology
The Greek letter Sigma (Σ) is derived from the Semitic letter Samekh (Σ), which is also the source of the Latin letter S.
Usage Notes
In statistics and quality control, the term “sigma” is used to represent a discrete probability distribution and has a specific meaning in Six Sigma methodology.
Cultural References
The term “sigma” has appeared in popular culture, including in films, books, and music, often symbolizing excellence or precision.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Sigma is often used in the phrase “six sigma” to describe a quality control standard or methodology.
Related Words or Phrases
Some related words and phrases include standard deviation, precision, mean, and variance.
Collocations
Sigma is often used in collocations with words such as “value,” “statistical,” “mathematical,” or “precision.”
Frequency of Use
The term “sigma” is relatively common in academic and technical contexts, particularly in fields such as statistics, engineering, and quality control.
Common Misspellings
Some common misspellings of the term “sigma” include “sigm” and “sigme.”