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Meaning & use

rough calculation

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌrʌf kælkjuˈleɪʃn/
US/ˌrʌf kælkjəˈleɪʃn/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    An answer you work out quickly using approximate numbers, not exact ones.

    Grammar: Countable: a rough calculation, rough calculations, or the rough calculation.

    Patterns

    • do a rough calculation
    • a rough calculation of something
    • by my rough calculation

    By my rough calculation, the trip will take about six hours.

    Let me do a rough calculation of how much paint we need.

    A rough calculation suggests the repairs will cost around two thousand dollars.

  2. nouncountable

    A quick judgment made without checking all the facts.

    Grammar: Often used with 'a' and followed by 'of' or 'as to'.

    Patterns

    • a rough calculation of something
    • make a rough calculation

    My rough calculation was that half the class would come, and I was close.

    This is only a rough calculation, not a final decision.

Word forms

pluralrough calculations

Common combinations

a rough calculation
A rough calculation puts the crowd at five thousand.
do a rough calculation
I did a rough calculation in my head.
by rough calculation
By rough calculation, we have three weeks left.
a rough calculation of the cost
She made a rough calculation of the cost before agreeing.

Synonyms and how they differ

estimate
Estimate is the usual everyday word and can be a noun or a verb; a rough calculation sounds slightly more technical.
approximation
Approximation is more formal and stresses that the figure is not exact.
guess
A guess involves little or no working out, while a rough calculation involves at least some numbers.

Opposites

precise calculationexact figure

Word family

calculate verb
to work out an amount using numbers
calculation noun
the act or result of working something out with numbers
calculator noun
a small machine used for doing calculations

Commonly confused: rough calculation or rough estimate?

rough calculation vs rough estimate

Very close in meaning; 'estimate' is more common in everyday speech, while 'rough calculation' suggests you actually used some numbers.

Practice

The engineer said, "By my ______, the bridge can hold about forty tons."

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