approximate age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximate age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate an estimated or rough age of a person, object, or entity without being precise. Example: "The approximate age of the artifact is believed to be around 2,000 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even the woman's approximate age was unknown.

The New York Times

HOW did researchers estimate the approximate age of the cabin?

The New York Times

This approximate age was then refined using radioactive isotopes.

The Economist

One item of information requested of candidates for admission to the Metropolitan Club is "Approximate Age".

The New Yorker

That data often contains "profile" data about a person, such as gender, approximate age, and location.

MIT Technology Review

Incremental markings on the maxillary incisor crowns revealed an approximate age at death of 4.6 years17.

Nature

The apartment-house superintendent was able to give the name, sex, and approximate age of each of the children.

The New Yorker

When a passer-by approaches, software determines his sex, approximate age and hair growth.

The Economist

Ms. Mundorff declined to discuss this case, but she said complete skulls provide much better data about sex, ancestry and approximate age.

The New York Times

According to the judgment, Chegeni, who was given the approximate age of 31, had been in immigration detention since arriving in Australia from Afghanistan on 12 July 2011.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Table  1 summarises the available studies and allows an approximate, age-dependent estimation of the risk.

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximate age", consider specifying a range (e.g., "approximate age between 25 and 30") to provide a more informative estimate.

Common error

Avoid implying a high degree of accuracy when using "approximate age". Make it clear that the age is an estimate and not a precise value. Use qualifiers like 'roughly' or 'about' to reinforce this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximate age" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "approximate" modifies the noun "age". It describes an age that is not precise but is close to the actual age. The use of this phrase is considered standard, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximate age" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate an estimated age. As Ludwig confirms, it is appropriate across various contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. The phrase's versatility makes it a valuable tool when precision isn't possible or necessary. Common alternatives include "estimated age" and "rough age". When using this phrase, ensure you convey that the age is an estimate and specify a range if possible to give a clearer understanding. Keep in mind, you should avoid overstating the precision of age.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

estimated age

Replaces "approximate" with "estimated", implying a calculated but not precise age.

rough age

Substitutes "approximate" with "rough", suggesting a less precise estimation.

around the age of

Adds a prepositional phrase to indicate a surrounding age range.

age range

Focuses on a span of ages rather than a single estimated age.

close to the age of

Indicates an age that is near a certain value.

approximate year of birth

Specifies the estimation to the year of birth rather than just age.

presumed age

Uses "presumed" instead of "approximate", implying an age based on assumption.

in the neighborhood of

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey an estimated age.

ballpark age

Employs a colloquial term to indicate a very rough estimation of age.

gestimated age

A portmanteau of 'guess' and 'estimated', indicating a very rough estimation.

FAQs

How to use "approximate age" in a sentence?

You can use "approximate age" to describe an estimated age when the exact age is unknown, like: "The suspect was described as having an "approximate age" of 30."

What can I say instead of "approximate age"?

You can use alternatives like "estimated age", "rough age", or "around the age of depending" on the context.

Which is correct, "approximate age" or "exact age"?

"Approximate age" is used when you don't know the precise age, while "exact age" is used when the age is known precisely. They serve different purposes.

What's the difference between "approximate age" and "average age"?

"Approximate age" refers to an estimation of a single person's age. "Average age" refers to the mean age of a group of people.