approximative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ap•prox•i•ma•tion /əˌprɑksəˈmeɪʃən/   n. 

[countable]
1. an amount or estimate that is almost correct but not exact:
   These numbers are just approximations.
2. the quality or state of being near or close:
   only an approximation of rational behavior.

See -prox-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ap•prox•i•ma•tion  (ə prok′sə mā′shən), n. 

1. a guess or estimate:
   Ninety-three million miles is an approximation of the distance of the earth from the sun.
2. nearness in space, position, degree, or relation;
   proximity;
   closeness.
3. Mathematics, Physics, Mathematics a 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

ap•prox′i•ma′tive, adj.