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

By their own calculation, Trump enacted some 64% of their recommendations in his budget in 2018, for example.

From Salon

But the desire to avoid costly wars is clearly a selective calculation.

From Salon

A similar calculation holds for Ethiopia and its fractious relations with an Egypt-led coalition that includes Eritrea and Somalia.

From BBC

It was one of her few obvious gaffes, but it was, more importantly, indicative of Harris’ refusal to distance herself from the radioactive president, or a calculation that creating that distance wasn’t politically possible.

From Slate

“There was nothing magical about the remaining ballots,” McCoy says, calling the calculation “a simple algebra problem.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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