the process or result of making a rough calculation, estimate, or guess an imprecise or unreliable record or version an inexact number, relationship, or theory that is sufficiently accurate for a specific purpose
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ap•prox•i•ma•tion /əˌprɑksəˈmeɪʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- [countable]
- an amount or estimate that is almost correct but not exact:These numbers are just approximations.
- the quality or state of being near or close:only an approximation of rational behavior.
ap•prox•i•ma•tion
(ə prok′sə mā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
ap•prox′i•ma′tive, adj.
- a guess or estimate:Ninety-three million miles is an approximation of the distance of the earth from the sun.
- nearness in space, position, degree, or relation;
proximity;
closeness. - Mathematics, Physics, Mathematicsa result that is not necessarily exact, but is within the limits of accuracy required for a given purpose.
- Medieval Latin approximātiōn-, stem of approximātiō. See approximate, -ion
- Middle French)
- late Middle English approximacioun (1400–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'approximation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Taylor series
- Weierstrass approximation theorem
- answer
- apicoalveolar
- approach
- ballpark
- error
- four-color process
- gas equation
- nearly
- oboe
- remainder
- spline
- temperament