chi-square test

Also chi-squared test

noun

Statistics.

a test devised by Karl Pearson that uses the quantity chi-square for testing the mathematical fit of a frequency curve to an observed frequency distribution.

chi-square test

noun

statistics a test derived from the chi-square distribution to compare the goodness of fit of theoretical and observed frequency distributions or to compare nominal data derived from unmatched groups of subjects

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Word History and Origins

Origin of chi-square test¹

First recorded in 1935–40

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

By repeatedly tallying whether or not a one-hour period following or not following your observation of a black cat in an area with high cat density did or did not bring you some specified level of misfortune, and by applying the statistician’s chi-square test, you can quickly convince yourself that the black-cat hypothesis has a probability of less than 1 out of 1,000 of being true.

From

The significance of each difference reported was calculated by the Chi-square test and the confidence limit is given in each case.

From

chi-square distribution chit

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