accurate

American  

[ak-yer-it] / ˈæk yər ɪt /

adjective

1. free from error or defect; consistent with a standard, rule, or model; precise; exact.

   Synonyms:

   unerring, true

2. careful or meticulous.

   I need a really accurate proofreader to check this paper before I submit it to the journal.

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accurate British  

/ ˈækjərɪt /

adjective

1. faithfully representing or describing the truth

2. showing a negligible or permissible deviation from a standard

   an accurate ruler

3. without error; precise; meticulous

4. maths

   1. (to n significant digits) representing the first n digits of the given number starting with the first nonzero digit, but approximating to the nearest digit in the final position

      since π = 3.14159…, the approximation 3.1416 is accurate to 5 significant digits.

   2. (to n decimal places) giving the first n digits after the decimal point without further approximation

      π = 3.1415 is in this sense accurate to 4 decimal places

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Related Words

See correct.

Other Word Forms

• accurately adverb
• accurateness noun
• hyperaccurate adjective
• hyperaccurateness noun
• superaccurate adjective
• superaccurateness noun
• unaccurate adjective
• unaccurateness noun

Etymology

Origin of accurate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin accūrātus “carefully prepared” (past participle of accūrāre ), equivalent to ac- ac- + cūr(a) “care” + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Something that is accurate is exact and true. It's important to be accurate in the kitchen with your measurements and in the courtroom with your testimony. The adjective accurate comes from the Latin roots ad curare, meaning "to take care," and that is precisely what you do when you make sure something is accurate. You take care to make sure it is perfectly correct: an accurate answer, an accurate headcount, an accurate assessment of the problem. By adding the Latin root in, meaning not, you can make the antonym inaccurate (not accurate).

Example Sentences

According to Schwimmer, creating a scientifically accurate, full-scale replica requires careful attention to detail.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

That institution comes in for specific criticism from Savouri who quips that the IMF acronym would be more accurate were it to represent the Invariably Mistaken Forecaster providing Grossly Distorted Projections.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

"So it's important if we are imparting information to the public it's accurate."

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

UPS said that will give customers a more up-to-date, accurate picture of where packages are, though it does not include real-time location tracking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

While all the information in this version of the story is accurate, its admirable brevity creates some unfortunate historical casualties of its own.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• authentic
• careful
• correct
• definite
• detailed
• exact
• factual
• meticulous
• proper
• rigorous
• scientific
• skillful
• solid
• specific
• strict
• systematic
• true