What does "analysis" mean?
Decomposition into components in order to study (a complex thing, concept, theory, etc.).
Analysis
/əˈnæl.ɪ.sɪs/ noun
noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Decomposition into components in order to study (a complex thing, concept, theory, etc.).
- Grammar: analysis is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, abstraction.
- Useful contrasts: historical description, cronica istorică, guesswork.
- Usage evidence: His essay gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, so it was a real surprise to him when he got the highest grade in the class.
How to use "analysis"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "analysis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "analysis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "analysis" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "analysis" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Decomposition into components in order to study (a complex thing, concept, theory, etc.). countable
"comparative analysis"
- 2 an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole wordnet
- 3 The result of such a process. countable
"Thus, in a sequence such as [French English teacher], since English is closer to the Head Noun teacher, it must be a Complement; and since French is further away from teacher, it must be an Attribute. Hence, we correctly predict that the only possible interpretation for [a French English teacher] is ‘a person who teaches English who is Frenchʼ. So our analysis not only has semantic plausi- bility; but in addition it has independent syntactic support."
- 4 a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud wordnet
- 5 A broad field of study in modern mathematics (often mentioned alongside algebra) which developed out of the calculus, concerned with the behavior of functions, sequences, series, limits, metric spaces, measures and more. uncountable
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations wordnet
- 7 Proof by deduction from known truths. countable
- 8 a branch of mathematics involving calculus and the theory of limits; sequences and series and integration and differentiation wordnet
- 9 The process of breaking down a substance into its constituent parts, or the result of this process. countable, physical
- 10 a form of literary criticism in which the structure of a piece of writing is analyzed wordnet
- 11 The analytical study of melodies, harmonies, sequences, repetitions, variations, quotations, juxtapositions, and surprises. uncountable
- 12 the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride's father’ wordnet
- 13 Psychoanalysis. countable
"The "Homosexuals" chapter gets off to a brisk start with a declaration from a man identified as "Nick August" ― a "self-proclaimed homosexual" ― that "homosexuals are men who are so terrified of their sexual feelings for their mothers, that they have spent their whole lives proving they don't have any feelings at all for women." We are not surprised to learn, later on, that he is in analysis; may I suggest that his analyst is a very old-fashioned one?"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"His essay gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, so it was a real surprise to him when he got the highest grade in the class."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "analysis"?
Common synonyms include: a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, abstraction, accounting, airing.
How do you use "analysis" in a sentence?
His essay gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, so it was a real surprise to him when he got the highest grade in the class.
How do you pronounce "analysis"?
Pronounced /əˈnæl.ɪ.sɪs/.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin analysis, from Ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (análusis), from ἀναλύω (analúō, “I unravel, investigate”), from ἀνα- (ana-, “thoroughly”) + λύω (lúō, “I loosen”).