correlate

1 of 2

noun

cor·​re·​late ˈkȯr-ə-lət How to pronounce correlate (audio)
ˈkär-,
-ˌlāt
1
: either of two things so related that one directly implies or is complementary to the other (such as husband and wife)
brain size as a correlate of intelligence
2
: a phenomenon that accompanies another phenomenon, is usually parallel to it, and is related in some way to it
… precise electrical correlates of conscious thinking in the human brain …Bayard Webster
correlate adjective

correlate

2 of 2

verb

cor·​re·​late ˈkȯr-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce correlate (audio)
ˈkär-
correlated; correlating

intransitive verb

: to bear reciprocal or mutual relations : correspond
If two things correlate, a change in one thing results in a similar or opposite change in the other thing.

transitive verb

1
a
: to establish a mutual or reciprocal relation between
correlate activities in the lab and the field
b
: to show correlation or a causal relationship between
There is no evidence correlating the cracking of one's knuckles and development of osteoarthritis.
2
: to present or set forth so as to show relationship
He correlates the findings of the scientists, the psychologists, and the mystics.Eugene Exman
correlatable adjective
correlator noun

Examples of correlate in a Sentence

Noun brain size as a correlate of intelligence the often uneasy relationship between the employer and his correlate, the employee Verb There is no evidence correlating height and intelligence. a demanding father who always correlated success with hard work
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This pull-back correlates with the growing insistence from investors for profitability, shifting streamers’ business tactics. Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024 Nonetheless, significant work has occurred on some of the neuronal correlates of REM sleeping in rodents and songbirds. Malcolm MacIver, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023 However, the evening wasn’t entirely unsatisfying: The neuroscientist Christof Koch of the Allen Institute for Brain Science conceded a 25-year-old bet with the philosopher David Chalmers of New York University that the neural correlates of consciousness would have been identified by now. Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023 Neuroscientists have identified a number of neural correlates of consciousness—brain states associated with specific mental states—but have not explained how matter forms minds in the first place. Dan Falk, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2023 Koch admitted that these results showed that no clear neural correlates had been found. Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023 Nailing down the neural correlates of consciousness, even if it can be done, won't necessarily show how consciousness emerges from matter. Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023 The upshot was that despite the wealth of experimental data gathered to study the correlates of consciousness, the uncertainties gave theorists room to claim that the data supported their preferred explanations. Elizabeth Finkel, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2023 Although researchers have identified neural correlates of consciousness — brain activity that marks conscious experience — there’s no guarantee those correlates will be the same in organoids as in humans. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Verb
Higher quit rates typically correlate to higher wage and price inflation pressures. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 As a plus for studios and exhibitors: Negative reviews rarely correlate to ticket sales. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 However, there is also the unavoidable impression that the above trends are correlated, and in the view of someone like Barjavel perhaps, are provoked by over industrialisation (of foodstuffs and lifestyles), over-financialisation (of real estate) and over digitisation. Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The elements correlate with the seasons, life phases, bodily organs, and, according to Methodos, leadership qualities: Water for patience, wood for drive, fire for spirit, earth for pragmatism, and metal for harmony and justice. Leila Milgrim, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024 The desire to dominate is not correlated with intelligence at all. TIME, 13 Feb. 2024 Still, Phillips told the Statesman that harvest rates for wolves remain relatively low, so a smaller wolf population would likely correlate to fewer wolves killed by hunting and trapping each year. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 The researchers homed in on variants of five genes that were strongly correlated with extreme longevity. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 So So Def label is directly correlated to Freaknik and 21 Savage is the new school. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'correlate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

back-formation from correlation

First Known Use

Noun

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1742, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of correlate was in 1643

Dictionary Entries Near correlate

Cite this Entry

“Correlate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correlate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

correlate

verb
cor·​re·​late
ˈkȯr-ə-ˌlāt,
ˈkär-
correlated; correlating
: to connect or relate in a systematic way
correlate history and literature lessons

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