confidence interval
noun
: a group of continuous or discrete adjacent values that is used to estimate a statistical parameter (such as a mean or variance) and that tends to include the true value of the parameter a predetermined proportion of the time if the process of finding the group of values is repeated a number of times
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web One alternative way of presenting results is to use a confidence interval. 
Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 22 July 2022 If the 95-percent confidence interval is between two and eight seconds faster, that’s promising. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 22 July 2022 That’s an efficacy, a reduction in relative risk, of about 74.2 percent (with a pretty wide confidence interval, indicating that the statistical power here is only so-so). Adam Rogers, Wired, 13 May 2021 Between 2014 and 2018, the confidence interval for one population, the mid-Columbia coho, included the 4% minimum threshold. ProPublica, 24 May 2022 For children 2 years to under 6 years, the efficacy estimate remained at 37 percent (with a 95 percent confidence interval of 13 to 54). Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2022 However, the numbers are simply too small to make that a reliable calculation; the 95 percent confidence interval on the calculation ranged from -50 to 68. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2022 The Alabama Arise survey, conducted Jan. 13-14, included 631 likely voters across Alabama with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.85% at a 95% confidence interval. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 10 Feb. 2022 The model’s output is given as a range, bounded by statistical likelihood parameters – e.g., the 95% confidence interval. George Calhoun, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2022 See More
Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 22 July 2022 If the 95-percent confidence interval is between two and eight seconds faster, that’s promising. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 22 July 2022 That’s an efficacy, a reduction in relative risk, of about 74.2 percent (with a pretty wide confidence interval, indicating that the statistical power here is only so-so). Adam Rogers, Wired, 13 May 2021 Between 2014 and 2018, the confidence interval for one population, the mid-Columbia coho, included the 4% minimum threshold. ProPublica, 24 May 2022 For children 2 years to under 6 years, the efficacy estimate remained at 37 percent (with a 95 percent confidence interval of 13 to 54). Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2022 However, the numbers are simply too small to make that a reliable calculation; the 95 percent confidence interval on the calculation ranged from -50 to 68. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2022 The Alabama Arise survey, conducted Jan. 13-14, included 631 likely voters across Alabama with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.85% at a 95% confidence interval. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 10 Feb. 2022 The model’s output is given as a range, bounded by statistical likelihood parameters – e.g., the 95% confidence interval. George Calhoun, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1934, in the meaning defined above