Correlation: Definition, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：mutual connection (correlation)

correlation 🔊

/ˌkɒr.əˈleɪ.ʃən/

A statistical measure that describes how two things change together. It shows a connection, but not necessarily that one causes the other.

Correlation illustrated: two line graphs showing sunlight hours and plant height increasing together

mutual connection 🔊

➕

/ˈmjuːtʃuəl kəˈnɛkʃən/

A mutual relationship or connection between two or more variables where they tend to vary together.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'cor-' (together) + 'relatio' (relation), meaning 'a relating together'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think CO-Relatives: things that CO-exist and are RELATED, but one didn't necessarily cause the other.

📖 Example

The botanist found a strong correlation between warmer weather and faster plant growth in her experiment. 🔊 The botanist discovered a significant mutual connection between increased temperatures and accelerated plant growth in her study.

🔗 Collocations

positive correlation – a relationship where both variables increase or decrease together

correlation coefficient – a numerical measure of the strength and direction of a linear relationship

strong correlation – a very clear and consistent mutual relationship between variables

🔄 Synonyms

association (n.) – a connection or relationship between things

connection (n.) – a relationship in which one thing is linked or related to another

link (n.) – a relationship between two things or situations

🚫 Antonyms

dissociation (n.) – a lack of connection or relationship between things

independence (n.) – the state of not being connected or influenced by something else

🌱 Derivatives

correlate (v./n.) – to have a mutual relationship or connection; something that correlates

correlative (adj.) – having a mutual relationship; corresponding

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'correlation' entered scientific discourse in the 18th century from Latin, emphasizing a mutual relationship rather than a one-way cause. Its precise statistical definition was formalized by Sir Francis Galton in the 1880s while studying heredity, leading to the Pearson correlation coefficient developed by Karl Pearson.