histogram: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “histogram” mean?
A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data, using bars of different heights where the width of each bar represents a range of values and the height represents the frequency of data within that range.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data, using bars of different heights where the width of each bar represents a range of values and the height represents the frequency of data within that range.
A data visualization tool in statistics used to show the frequency distribution of continuous or discrete quantitative variables, forming a foundational concept in exploratory data analysis and quality control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation differences are minor. The core meaning and usage are identical across fields like statistics, data science, and quality management.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. Associated with statistical literacy, Six Sigma, data analysis, and scientific reporting in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical and academic contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “histogram” in a Sentence
[Verb] a histogram (of N)The histogram [Verb] [Adjective]Histogram of [Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “histogram” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to histogram the response times to check for normality.
- The software histograms the data automatically.
American English
- First, histogram the dataset to see its shape.
- The tool allows you to histogram the variable with custom bins.
adverb
British English
- [Not standard; no adverbial form in common use]
American English
- [Not standard; no adverbial form in common use]
adjective
British English
- The histogram output was clearly bimodal.
- We used a histogram view to analyse the results.
American English
- The histogram analysis revealed an outlier.
- Provide the histogram summary in the appendix.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for analyzing sales distributions, customer age groups, or process performance metrics.
Academic
Fundamental in statistics, psychology, and science papers for displaying experimental data distributions.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. May appear in news articles explaining demographic or economic data.
Technical
Core term in data science, image processing (e.g., histogram equalization), statistical software, and quality control charts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “histogram”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “histogram”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “histogram”
- Adding gaps between the bars (confusing it with a bar chart).
- Using it for categorical (non-numerical) data.
- Incorrectly saying 'histograph'.
- Mispronouncing as 'history-gram'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A bar chart is for categorical data (like 'types of fruit') with separate bars. A histogram is for continuous numerical data (like 'heights from 160-165 cm') where bars touch to show the data is on a continuous scale.
Yes, in technical fields (especially computing and statistics), it is accepted to use 'histogram' as a verb meaning 'to create a histogram of data' (e.g., 'histogram the pixel values').
Bin width is the range of values that each bar (or 'bin') in a histogram covers. Choosing an appropriate bin width is crucial; too wide can hide details, too narrow can make the graph noisy.
No, they are fundamental in statistics but are also widely used in digital image processing (e.g., adjusting contrast), quality control in manufacturing, and any field involving analysis of numerical data distributions.
A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data, using bars of different heights where the width of each bar represents a range of values and the height represents the frequency of data within that range.
Histogram is usually technical / academic in register.
Histogram: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɪstəˌɡræm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɪstəˌɡræm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HISTORY + GRAM. A 'histogram' is a gram (record/drawing) that shows the history or distribution of your data.
Conceptual Metaphor
DATA DISTRIBUTION IS A PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE (e.g., 'a peak in the histogram', 'the tails of the distribution').
Practice
Quiz
What is the key visual difference between a histogram and a standard bar chart?