Meaning & use
extrapolation
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
An estimate of unknown values made by extending a known trend or pattern beyond the available data.
Grammar: Can be countable ('an extrapolation') or uncountable ('by extrapolation').
Patterns
- extrapolation from something
- extrapolation of something
- an extrapolation from data
The scientist's extrapolation from current trends suggests the ice will melt faster than expected.
Her prediction was an extrapolation of sales figures from the last five years.
Extrapolation becomes less reliable the further you go beyond the original data.
noununcountable
The act or process of making such an estimate.
Grammar: Often used after 'by' or 'through': 'by extrapolation'.
Patterns
- by extrapolation
- through extrapolation
We can estimate future demand by extrapolation.
The researchers arrived at their conclusion through extrapolation.
Word forms
| plural | extrapolations |
|---|
Common combinations
- extrapolation from data
- The model is an extrapolation from data collected over ten years.
- a rough extrapolation
- This is only a rough extrapolation, so don't treat it as exact.
- extrapolation of trends
- The report is based on an extrapolation of recent trends.
- by extrapolation
- They estimated the population by extrapolation from census records.
Synonyms and how they differ
- projection
- A forecast based on current data; 'projection' often implies a more formal or statistical method, while 'extrapolation' stresses extending a line or trend beyond known points.
- inference
- A conclusion reached from evidence; 'inference' can be logical or general, whereas 'extrapolation' is specifically about extending a pattern beyond the data.
Opposites
Word family
- extrapolate verb
- To estimate unknown values by extending a known trend.
- extrapolative adjective
- Relating to or involving extrapolation.
Commonly confused: extrapolation or interpolation?
extrapolation vs interpolation
Interpolation estimates values within the range of known data, while extrapolation goes beyond the known data.
Practice
The forecast is an ______ from last year's sales, so it may not hold if the market changes.
Choose one answer.
'Extrapolation' means extending known data beyond its range; 'interpolation' is estimating within the range; 'extraction' means removing something; 'interpretation' means explaining meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extrapolation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.