statistical significance

1. In statistics , a number that expresses the probability that the result of a given experiment or study could have occurred purely by chance. This number can be a margin of error (“The results of this public opinion poll are accurate to five percent”), or it can indicate a confidence level (“If this experiment were repeated, there is a probability of ninety-five percent that our conclusions would be substantiated”).

Example Sentences

Unless otherwise noted, statistical significance as used in this paper is at the 95 per cent confidence limit or higher.

From Project Gutenberg