an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole
"The doctor's analysis revealed that the patient's chronic fatigue stemmed from a combination of iron deficiency, poor sleep habits, and high stress levels."
the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations
"The scientist spent weeks conducting an analysis that broke down the complex ecosystem into individual species interactions to understand how each contributed to the forest's stability."
a form of literary criticism in which the structure of a piece of writing is analyzed
"The professor began her lecture by presenting an analysis that deconstructed the intricate narrative arc and symbolic imagery within the novel."
the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., `the father of the bride' instead of `the bride's father'
"The linguist praised his analysis for correctly identifying how modern English relies on prepositional phrases rather than case endings to show possession."
a branch of mathematics involving calculus and the theory of limits; sequences and series and integration and differentiation
"The professor graded my exam based on how well I could perform analysis, specifically solving complex problems involving infinite series."
a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud
"his physician recommended psychoanalysis"
Decomposition into components in order to study (a complex thing, concept, theory etc.).
"The professor spent the entire lecture breaking down the economic theory through a rigorous analysis of its underlying assumptions."
In plain English: Analysis is the process of breaking something down into its parts to better understand how it works.
"The market analysis showed that sales were up significantly this quarter."
Usage: Use analysis when referring to the detailed examination of something complex by breaking it down into its constituent parts to understand how they work together. Avoid using it interchangeably with "analogy," which is a comparison used to explain an idea rather than dissecting one.
The word analysis comes from Medieval Latin and originally Ancient Greek, where it meant "to unravel" or "investigate." It entered English with this sense of breaking something down thoroughly to understand its parts.