Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

kor-uh-LEY-shun

Definitions

• A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things.
• In statistics, a measure of the extent to which two variables are related.

Usage Examples

• The correlation between smoking and lung cancer has been extensively studied.
• There is a strong correlation between education and income levels in many societies.
• Researchers found no significant correlation between the two factors in their study.

Etymology

From the Latin correlatio, meaning "to relate" or "bring together," from com- (“together”) and relatus (“related”).

Synonyms

• Association
• Connection
• Link
• Relation
• Affinity

Antonyms

• Disconnection
• Separation
• Isolation
• Unrelatedness

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• American English: kor-uh-LEY-shun
• British English: kor-uh-LEY-shun
• Latin American Spanish: kor-reh-la-syon
• European Spanish: kor-reh-la-thyon

Historical Usage

The term "correlation" was first used in the 19th century in the field of statistics, although the concept of mutual relationships between variables dates back to earlier studies in mathematics and natural science.

Cultural Nuances

In scientific contexts, correlation is used to describe statistical relationships between variables. However, it is crucial to distinguish correlation from causation, as the presence of correlation does not imply that one variable causes the other.

More Information

Correlation plays a pivotal role in various fields such as economics, psychology, medicine, and sociology. In statistics, the strength and direction of correlation are often measured using correlation coefficients, such as Pearson's r. Researchers use correlation to identify patterns, make predictions, and analyze the relationship between variables. Understanding correlation is fundamental in data analysis, though it is always important to remember that correlation does not imply causation.