bell curve

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   A graph shaped like a bell that shows how values cluster around an average, with fewer values at the extremes.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a bell curve' or 'the bell curves'.

   Patterns

   • a bell curve
   • on a bell curve
   • the bell curve of something

   The teacher explained that test scores often form a bell curve, with most students near the middle.

   If you plot the heights of all the players, you get a bell curve.

   The company's profits followed a bell curve, rising then falling.

2. 2nounsingularfigurative

   A situation or pattern in which most people or things are average and very few are extreme.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively after 'on' or 'along': 'somewhere on the bell curve'.

   Patterns

   • on the bell curve
   • somewhere on the bell curve

   In terms of ability, most of us are somewhere in the middle of the bell curve.

   The debate about intelligence often refers to the bell curve of test results.

Word forms

Common combinations

a bell curve distribution

The data showed a bell curve distribution, not a flat line.

fit a bell curve

Statisticians tried to fit a bell curve to the data.

on the bell curve

Her score put her at the top of the bell curve.

the bell curve of something

The bell curve of income shows few very rich and few very poor.

Synonyms and how they differ

normal distribution

The precise statistical term; use it in technical writing, while 'bell curve' is more visual and informal.

Gaussian distribution

A formal synonym used in mathematics and science, named after Gauss; 'bell curve' is the everyday term.

Word family

curve noun

A line that bends smoothly; a bell curve is a specific type of curve.

curved adjective

Having a smooth bend; describes the shape of a bell curve.

Commonly confused: bell curve or bell-shaped?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bell curve”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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