curve fitting

noun

, Statistics.

1. the determination of a curve that fits a specified set of points:

   The method of least squares is commonly used for curve fitting.

Other Words From

• curve-fitting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of curve fitting¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

They found the eGFR equation consistently underestimated kidney function in Black patients, so they used a common statistical method called curve fitting to adjust the estimates according to race.

From Science Magazine

It’s a characteristic feature of this kind of analysis, called “curve fitting,” that you can extrapolate from observed data without any knowledge of the mechanism underlying whatever real-life thing you’re studying.

From Slate

Such “curve fitting” renders the program incapable of making meaningful predictions, he says.

From Science Magazine

Müller, H. G. Weighted local regression and kernel methods for nonparametric curve fitting.

From Nature

The light curve fitting code described here is publicly available at the following website: https://star.pst.qub.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php/users/ajerkstrand/lightcurvecodes.

From Nature