time series: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Academic, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “time series” mean?
A sequence of data points collected or recorded at successive, typically equally spaced, points in time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sequence of data points collected or recorded at successive, typically equally spaced, points in time.
In statistics and data science, a time series is a series of observations indexed in time order, used to analyze trends, seasonality, and make forecasts. It is a fundamental concept in econometrics, finance, meteorology, and any field dealing with temporal data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling follows local conventions (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in technical/academic contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “time series” in a Sentence
The time series shows...A time series of [measurements]to model/data as a time seriesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “time series” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to time-series the monthly expenditure figures for the audit.
- The software can time-series the raw sensor outputs.
American English
- The researcher time-seriesed the climate data before running the correlation.
- Can this application time-series the stock prices?
adverb
British English
- The data was collected time-series weekly for two years.
- The measurements are not available time-series, only as aggregates.
American English
- The metrics are reported time-series on the dashboard.
- Arrange the data time-series, not by category.
adjective
British English
- The time-series analysis revealed a clear seasonal pattern.
- She is an expert in time-series econometrics.
American English
- We're looking for a candidate with strong time-series modeling skills.
- The time-series plot is in the appendix.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Analyzing sales time series to forecast next quarter's revenue.
Academic
The study employed ARIMA modeling on a century-long temperature time series.
Everyday
I made a simple time series of my daily step count using a spreadsheet. (Less common in casual conversation.)
Technical
Ensuring the time series is covariance-stationary is a prerequisite for the model.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “time series”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “time series”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “time series”
- Using as a countable noun incorrectly: 'a time series data' (redundant, choose 'a time series' OR 'time series data').
- Confusing with 'timeline' (which emphasizes events, not numerical measurements).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as a singular noun (e.g., 'This time series is interesting'). The plural is 'time series' (e.g., 'These time series are correlated').
All time series are sequences, but not all sequences are time series. A time series specifically implies the indexing dimension is *time* (e.g., seconds, days, years). A sequence can be ordered by any other criterion (e.g., position, size).
In professional jargon (especially in tech/finance), it is sometimes used as a verb meaning 'to organize or treat data as a time series.' This usage is informal and context-dependent.
A major pitfall is ignoring autocorrelation (where data points are not independent because each is related to previous ones), which violates assumptions of many standard statistical tests.
A sequence of data points collected or recorded at successive, typically equally spaced, points in time.
Time series is usually academic, technical, business in register.
Time series: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm ˌsɪə.riːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm ˌsɪr.iːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms. It is a technical compound noun.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **SERIES** of photos taken at regular **TIME** intervals, like a flipbook. The sequence (series) is defined by time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A PATH (the series plots a journey along the path of time). DATA IS A LIQUID (time series data 'flows').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a time series?