What does "sigma" mean?
The eighteenth letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (Σ, σ), the twentieth letter of Old and Ancient.
Usage Contextslangsocial
Note: Meaning is trend-dependent and can shift quickly.
Sigma
/ˈsɪɡmə/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The eighteenth letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (Σ, σ), the twentieth letter of Old and Ancient.
- Grammar: sigma is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: dispersion measure, greek letter, letter, measurable set collection.
- Useful contrasts: consistency, uniformity.
- Usage evidence: He did the project solo and called it sigma mode.
How to use "sigma"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sigma" 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 "sigma" 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 "sigma" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sigma" 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 "sigma" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang 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 "dispersion measure" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sigma", 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 The eighteenth letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets (Σ, σ), the twentieth letter of Old and Ancient.
"Their names, which are expressive of some bodily or mental excellence, all end with the same letter---the letter which is called San by the Dorians, and Sigma by the Ionians."
- 2 the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet wordnet
- 3 The symbol Σ, used to indicate summation of a set or series.
- 4 The symbol σ, used to indicate one standard deviation from the mean, particularly in a normal distribution.
"2011, Paul Rincon, (bbc.co.uk) LHC: Higgs boson 'may have been glimpsed' None of the spikes seen by the experiments is at much more than the "two sigma" level of certainty. A level of "five sigma" is required to claim a discovery, meaning there is less than a one in a million chance the data spike is down to a statistical fluke."
- 5 A sigma male (a self-reliant and assertive male). Internet
Adjective
- 1 Possessing characteristics of a sigma male. Internet
Slang
- 1 A meme label for someone seen as independent, stoic, or unfazed. slang, gen-alpha, 2020s
"He did the project solo and called it sigma mode."
Proper Noun
- 1 A municipality of Capiz, Philippines.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"He did the project solo and called it sigma mode."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sigma"?
Common synonyms include: dispersion measure, greek letter, letter, measurable set collection, set family, sigma male.
How do you use "sigma" in a sentence?
He did the project solo and called it sigma mode.
How do you pronounce "sigma"?
Pronounced /ˈsɪɡmə/.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σῖγμα (sîgma), probably from the root σῑγ- (sīg-) as seen in σίζω (sízō, “to hiss”) + -μα (-ma, nominal suffix).