regression

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'regression' is an accepted and used word in written English.
It is used to describe a situation in which someone or something has returned to a former or less advanced state, or to describe the process of returning to such a state. Example sentence: After a few weeks, the patient showed signs of regression in his condition.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It enacts a regression from the Christian ethic of "love thy neighbour" back to the pagan privileging of the tribe over the barbarian Other.

The Guardian

One of the signs of this regression is a request often heard on the new European right for a more "balanced" view of the two "extremisms", the right and the left.

The Guardian

Save the Children was also concerned by developmental regression and mental illness among children, instances of family violence and the breakdown of family relationships as a result of immigration detention.

The Guardian

When, in 2006, I was in Manaus, the great river city right in the heart of the Amazon, I heard contradictory accounts of progress and regression.

The Guardian

There are those who'll think that in punting Malthouse, Carlton are responding to an unacceptable regression in performance and 'making a statement'.

The Guardian - Sport

We must question any attempt at regression from anyone's access to healthcare and their right to health.

The Guardian - Opinion

We've had almost 25 years of "new growth theory" research, with every possible regression run, looking for the keys to faster growth; my sense is that we've basically come up dry.

The New York Times

Regression can happen quickly.

The Guardian

I see regression and grief.

The Guardian - Opinion

The difference allows them to run a regression to see how much the extra military spending boosted the economy.In recent work, our approach has been to exploit regional variation in military spending in the US (Nakamura and Steinsson 2011).

The Economist

Such a regression could happen in countries where support for authoritarianism remains high, such as Paraguay.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In psychological contexts, differentiate between temporary setbacks and more profound "regression" to earlier developmental stages.

Common error

Avoid using "regression" interchangeably with "recession", especially in economic discussions. "Regression" generally refers to a return to a former state, while "recession" specifically denotes a period of economic decline.

Linguistic Context

The word "regression" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the act of returning to a previous state or a statistical method for analyzing relationships between variables. Ludwig examples showcase its application across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "regression" is a versatile term with applications ranging from describing a return to a former state to denoting a statistical analysis method. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage spans news, science, and formal business contexts, exhibiting a neutral to formal register. Common errors include confusing it with "recession", so careful attention to context is crucial. With a high expert rating, "regression" is a grammatically sound and widely used term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relapse

Focuses on the recurrence of a condition or behavior after a period of improvement.

reversion

Highlights the act of returning to a former state or condition.

decline

Emphasizes a gradual deterioration or decrease in quality or condition.

retrogression

Similar to regression but often implies a more significant or undesirable decline.

setback

Indicates a temporary impediment or reversal in progress.

reversal

Focuses on a change to an opposite direction or condition.

backsliding

Implies a moral or ethical decline.

fall back

Suggests a retreat or withdrawal to a previous position or state.

deterioration

Highlights the process of becoming progressively worse.

degeneration

Emphasizes a decline in quality or function, often in a biological context.

FAQs

How to use "regression" in a sentence?

You can use "regression" to describe a return to a previous state, as in "The patient showed signs of "regression" after the treatment was discontinued". In statistics, it can refer to a method of analyzing the relationship between variables.

What can I say instead of "regression"?

You can use alternatives like "relapse", "reversion", or "decline" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "regression" or "retrogression"?

"Regression" and "retrogression" are similar, but "retrogression" often implies a more significant or undesirable decline. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "regression" and "recession"?

"Regression" generally refers to a return to a previous state, while "recession" specifically denotes a period of economic decline. They are not interchangeable.