Meaning & use
analysis
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A careful study of something by looking closely at its parts, in order to understand how it works or what it means.
Grammar: Plural is analyses (pronounced uh-NAL-uh-seez): two separate analyses.
Patterns
- analysis of something
- an analysis of something
The report includes a detailed analysis of last year's sales.
Her analysis of the poem focused on its imagery.
After careful analysis, engineers found the cause of the crack.
nouncountable or uncountablechemistrytechnical
A scientific test or procedure that finds out what a substance is made of.
Grammar: Often with a test word: a blood analysis, soil analysis.
Patterns
- analysis of something
Laboratory analysis showed traces of lead in the water.
A chemical analysis of the rock confirmed it was iron ore.
The doctor ordered an analysis of the patient's blood.
noununcountableold-fashioned
Short for psychoanalysis, a method of treating mental problems by talking about thoughts and past experiences.
Grammar: Used without an article: he went into analysis.
Patterns
- in analysis
He spent years in analysis trying to understand his fears.
She credits analysis with helping her through her grief.
Her grandmother was in analysis in the 1960s.
Word forms
| plural | analyses |
|---|
Common combinations
- detailed analysis
- The committee requested a detailed analysis of the costs.
- in the final analysis
- In the final analysis, the decision was his to make.
- data analysis
- Data analysis revealed a pattern in the complaints.
- conduct an analysis
- Researchers conducted an analysis of voting trends.
- under analysis
- The samples are still under analysis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- examination
- Examination suggests looking closely at something, while analysis emphasizes separating it into parts to explain it.
- study
- Study is broader and can mean any careful investigation, whereas analysis breaks a subject apart.
- breakdown
- Breakdown is more casual and often means a list of figures split into categories.
- evaluation
- Evaluation focuses on judging value or quality, while analysis focuses on understanding structure.
Opposites
Word family
- analyze verb
- to examine something in detail
- analyst noun
- a person who analyzes, especially professionally
- analytical adjective
- using careful logical study
- analytically adverb
- in a logical, detailed way
Commonly confused: analysis or analyses?
analysis vs analyses
Analyses is the plural of analysis, and is also not the same as the verb analyzes.
Practice
Which is the plural of analysis?
Choose one answer.
Analysis comes from Greek and forms its plural as analyses. The other options are incorrect spellings or a possessive form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “analysis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.