Chi-square Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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chi-square

noun

ˈkī-ˈskwer often attributive : a statistic that is a sum of terms each of which is a quotient obtained by dividing the square of the difference between the observed and theoretical values of a quantity by the theoretical value

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler The first known use of chi-square was in 1900 See more words from the same year

Rhymes for chi-square

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

See All Rhymes for chi-square

Browse Nearby Words

Chislev chi-square chi-square distribution See all Nearby Words

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“Chi-square.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chi-square. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

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