bell curve

[ bel kurv ]

noun

, Statistics.

1. a frequency curve that resembles the outline of a bell, such as the normal curve:

   The function is balanced, meaning that the distribution of index values typically follows a bell curve, not a flat linear distribution.

bell curve

1. A symmetrical bell-shaped curve that represents the distribution of values, frequencies, or probabilities of a set of data. It slopes downward from a point in the middle corresponding to the mean value, or the maximum probability. Data that reflect the aggregate outcome of large numbers of unrelated events tend to result in bell curve distributions.
2. ◆ The Gaussian or normal distribution is a mathematically well-defined bell curve used in statistics and in science generally.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bell curve¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

My childhood experiences fall somewhere toward the middle of the Hollywood-upbringing bell curve.

From The Daily Beast