Meaning & use

approximation

noun·Academic

A value, calculation, or description that is close to but not exactly accurate.

See it in a sentence

The contractor gave us an approximation of the total cost before the final quote.

Her guess of two hundred guests was a rough approximation of the actual turnout.

A note on using this word

Approximation is often paired with adjectives like rough, close, or reasonable to indicate how accurate the estimate is meant to be.

Words with a similar meaning

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Make it your own

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