calculation

[ kal-kyuh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of calculating; computation.
2. the result or product of calculation:

   His calculations agree with ours.

3. an estimate based on the known facts; forecast:

   Her calculation of the building costs proved quite accurate.

4. forethought; prior or careful planning.
5. scheming selfishness.

calculation

/ ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, process, or result of calculating
2. an estimation of probability; forecast
3. careful planning or forethought, esp for selfish motives

Other Words From

• cal·cu·la·tive [kal, -ky, uh, -ley-tiv, ‑l, uh, -tiv], calcu·lation·al cal·cu·la·to·ry [kal, -ky, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, ‑-tohr-ee], adjective
• non·calcu·lative adjective
• precal·cu·lation noun
• un·calcu·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of calculation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin calculātiōn- (stem of calculātiō “reckoning”). See calculate, -ion

Synonym Study

See prudence.

Example Sentences

At the same time, they were able to use their calculations to produce a visualisation of the photon itself.

From Science Daily

Last winter, the team made a similar calculation when it came to Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s a shortage of growth capital: By Wehmeier’s calculations, the continent has underfunded later-stage start-ups by about $375 billion over the past decade, partly because of a lack of pension fund investment in venture capital.

From New York Times

Will that be a factor in Vladimir Putin’s calculations as he formulates Russia’s response?

From BBC

This had been widely expected, so the markets had already factored the cut into their calculations.

From BBC

Related Words

• arithmetic
• computation
• counting
• estimate
• estimation
• forecast
• judgment
• prediction