What does "logistic" mean?
A logistic function or graph of a logistic curve.
Logistic
/ləˈd͡ʒɪs.tɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A logistic function or graph of a logistic curve.
- Grammar: logistic is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dialectic, dialectics, logic, logistical.
- Useful contrasts: exponential, linear, nonlogistic.
- Usage evidence: The influence of covariates on the primary outcome variable was explored using logistic regression.
How to use "logistic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "logistic" 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
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- 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 "logistic" 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 "logistic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "logistic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "logistic" is acting as adj, 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
Compare it with "dialectic" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "logistic", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 A logistic function or graph of a logistic curve. countable
- 2 The art of calculation. obsolete, uncountable
- 3 Sexagesimal arithmetic. obsolete, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 Relating to symbolic logic. not-comparable
- 2 Relating to logistics. not-comparable
- 3 Relating to the logistic function. not-comparable
- 4 Using sexagesimal fractions, especially in arithmetic or logarithms. not-comparable, obsolete
- 5 Relating to basic arithmetic. not-comparable, obsolete
"If we compare the calculus of a triangle, by the logistic logarithms …"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Skilled in calculating. not-comparable, obsolete
- 7 Proportional. not-comparable, obsolete
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to logistics wordnet
Example
"The influence of covariates on the primary outcome variable was explored using logistic regression."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "logistic"?
Common synonyms include: dialectic, dialectics, logic, logistical, logistics-related, operational.
How do you use "logistic" in a sentence?
The influence of covariates on the primary outcome variable was explored using logistic regression.
How do you pronounce "logistic"?
Pronounced /ləˈd͡ʒɪs.tɪk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French logistique, from Ancient Greek λογιστικός (logistikós, “practiced in arithmetic; rational”), from λογίζομαι (logízomai, “I reason, I calculate”), from λόγος (lógos, “reason, computation”), whence English logos, logic, logarithm, etc.; modern mathematical use influenced by related logarithmic. Sense of “logistic function” by Pierre François Verhulst (1845) in French, then borrowed into English. Verhulst does not explain his choice of naming, but he contrasts it with the logarithmic curve (also from λόγος (lógos)), and it is presumably by analogy with arithmetic and geometric (other divisions of mathematics), as his discussion of arithmetic growth and geometric growth precede his discussion of logistic growth. The term logistic and logistical also found occasional mathematical use in English prior to 1800, from the same Greek origin.
Etymology 2
From French logistique, from loger (“to lodge”) or logis (“lodging place”).