correlation Definition
- 1a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things
- 2the degree to which two or more attributes or measurements on the same group of elements show a tendency to vary together
Using correlation: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "correlation" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
There is a strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
Example
The study found a positive correlation between exercise and heart health.
Example
There is a correlation between high stress levels and poor sleep quality.
correlation Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for correlation
Antonyms for correlation
Phrases with correlation
a statistical measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables
Example
The correlation coefficient between height and weight was calculated to be 0.7.
causal correlation
a relationship between two variables where one variable causes the other
Example
There is a causal correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
a relationship between two variables that is not causally related, but appears to be due to coincidence or a third factor
Example
There is a spurious correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates.
Origins of correlation
from Latin 'correlatio', from 'cor-' (together) + 'relatio' (relation)
Summary: correlation in Brief
The term 'correlation' [ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃn] refers to a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things. It is often used in statistical analysis to describe the degree to which two or more attributes or measurements on the same group of elements show a tendency to vary together. Examples include the correlation between smoking and lung cancer, and the correlation between exercise and heart health. Other phrases include 'correlation coefficient,' which measures the strength of the relationship between two variables, and 'spurious correlation,' which appears to be related but is actually coincidental.
