outlier

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "outlier" is correct and widely used in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is an extreme deviation from the expected norm or average. For example, "The company's success story is an outlier among its competitors, who have struggled in recent years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The state of Georgia remains an extreme outlier in requiring that defendants prove they have mental retardation 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.

The Guardian

Manuel Pellegrini, the sword of Abu Dhamocles constantly hovering over his head, will be desperate to finish the season with a sixth victory in a row against a Saints team in a poor run of form (that astonishing first-half, five-goal outlier against Aston Villa apart).

The Guardian - Sport

Back in 2007, people thought that the UK, which scored minus 13 points in trust, was the Eurosceptic outlier.

The Guardian - Opinion

When it comes to European politics, Hungary is somewhat of an outlier.

The Guardian

Bachmann was an outlier in Minnesota for many reasons, not the least of which being how she fit terribly with her district.

The Guardian - Opinion

You might think Mohamed is an unusual case, an outlier in a nation of apathetic young people disengaged from politics and uninterested in the world around them.

The Guardian - Opinion

This group was such an outlier that Dr Fry and Mr Soderberg did their analysis twice: once with and once without the Tiwi.Nomad's landExcluding the Tiwi, deaths in war were only 15% of the total.

The Economist

This is one of a number of metrics on which America is a weird outlier among nations.

The Economist

He concluded that death in warfare is so common in hunter-gatherer societies that it was an important evolutionary pressure on early Homo sapiens, and might easily account for the emergence of self-sacrificial altruism.Dr Bowles's analysis did not, however, separate the Tiwi from the rest, so was influenced by this outlier.

The Economist

Houston leans slightly to the left, but Austin is an extreme liberal outlier.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

TODAY'S recommended economics writing: Capital controls and the Cypri-outlier (Alphaville) Is job polarisation holding back the labour market?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outlier" in statistical contexts, ensure you clearly define the parameters within which a data point is considered an "outlier". This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid automatically dismissing "outliers" as errors. They may represent genuine, significant deviations that warrant further investigation rather than immediate removal from the dataset.

Linguistic Context

The word "outlier" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a person, thing, or data point that differs significantly from the norm. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "outlier" is a noun that refers to something deviating from the norm. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various domains. It is especially prevalent in News & Media and Science, denoting its importance in identifying irregularities and exceptional cases. Remember, understanding and contextualizing "outliers" is crucial, as they may represent significant deviations rather than mere errors. As for usage, it's better to use the term "outlying data" instead of "outlier data".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

statistical anomaly

Specifically refers to a data point that differs significantly from other observations.

anomaly

Focuses on the irregularity or deviation from the norm.

aberration

Emphasizes a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.

exception

Highlights something that does not conform to the general rule or pattern.

oddity

Stresses the strangeness or unusual nature of something.

exceptional case

Emphasizes the uniqueness and distinctiveness of a particular instance.

deviation

Indicates a departure from an established course or standard.

rarity

Focuses on the infrequency or scarcity of something.

maverick

Implies independence and a willingness to defy convention.

nonconformist

Highlights a person or thing that does not conform to accepted beliefs or practices.

FAQs

How can I use "outlier" in a sentence?

You can use "outlier" to describe something that deviates significantly from the norm. For example, "That student's test score was an outlier compared to the rest of the class."

What's the difference between "outlier" and "anomaly"?

While both terms refer to something unusual, "outlier" is often used in a statistical context to describe a data point that significantly differs from others, while "anomaly" is a broader term for anything that deviates from the norm.

Which is correct, "outlier data" or "outlying data"?

"Outlying data" is generally preferred because "outlying" functions as an adjective directly describing the data. While "outlier data" is sometimes used, it is less common.

What can I say instead of "outlier"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "exception", "aberration", or "anomaly".