sigma

noun

sig·​ma ˈsig-mə How to pronounce sigma (audio)
1
: the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
2

Examples of sigma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The fruit fly where wMel comes from also carries sigma-virus, a type that Wolbachia does nothing to protect against. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2012 According to the group’s calculations, the Planck data point to a closed universe with a standard deviation of 3.5 sigma (a statistical measurement that means about 99.8% confidence that the result isn’t due to random chance). Rafi Letzter, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2019 Thomson and his team must reach five-sigma certainty to definitively claim a discovery. Quanta Magazine, 14 May 2015 Historically, most industrial companies operate between three and four sigma, making them between 93% and 99.3% defect-free (these figures can vary slightly depending on the statistical model). Oliver Staley, Quartz at Work, 3 Sep. 2019 The gold standard for discovery is a five-sigma result, comparable to tossing 21 heads in a row. Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 18 July 2013 Through regular reports released under the name sigma, the company offers a lens into the changing trends of the insurance world. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 17 Apr. 2019 Typically, only five sigma is needed to call something a discovery. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 28 June 2018 Physicists and astronomers, however, aren't usually convinced that two phenomena are connected until there's no more than a one in 3.5 million, or 5 sigma, probability of a coincidence. Daniel Clery, Science | AAAS, 12 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sigma.' 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

Greek

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sigma was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near sigma

Cite this Entry

“Sigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sigma. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sigma

noun
sig·​ma ˈsig-mə How to pronounce sigma (audio)
: the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet
Σ or σ or ς
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