a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters
"The professor explained that statistics is not just about crunching numbers, but rather a rigorous branch of applied mathematics used to interpret data and estimate unknown population parameters through probability theory."
A discipline, principally within applied mathematics, concerned with the systematic study of the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data.
"The team's new analytics dashboard displays real-time statistics on player performance and fan engagement."
A systematic collection of data on measurements or observations, often related to demographic information such as population counts, incomes, population counts at different ages, etc.
plural of statistic
In plain English: Statistics is the study of collecting and analyzing numbers to find patterns and make sense of data.
"The teacher used statistics to show how much homework students were completing each week."
Usage: Use statistics to refer to both singular data sets and plural numerical facts depending on whether you mean a specific group or general mathematical principles. Avoid confusing this field with mere opinion by noting that valid statistical conclusions rely on rigorous methods rather than anecdotal evidence.
The word statistics comes from German Statistik, which was coined in 1749 to describe the analysis of data concerning a nation's government. It derives from New Latin statisticum and Italian statista, both meaning "of the state" or "statesman."