Engineering English
Precision
Quality, Testing & Inspection · Engineering Fundamentals · Mechatronics & Robotics · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The closeness of agreement between repeated measurements of the same quantity under specified conditions, independent of how near those measurements are to the true value. It reflects the random scatter of a measurement system.
Example in context
“Ten repeated diameter measurements clustered within two micrometres of each other, demonstrating excellent precision even though the mean sat below the nominal specification.”
“On tekrarlı çap ölçümü birbirinin iki mikrometre içinde toplandı; ortalama nominal spesifikasyonun altında olmasına rağmen mükemmel kesinlik gösterdi.”
Where engineers use it
Precision is quantified in repeatability and reproducibility studies, control chart analysis and instrument qualification, telling engineers how much random scatter a measurement system contributes before they trust its results for process control decisions.
In Engineering Fundamentals
The degree to which repeated measurements taken under the same conditions agree with each other, regardless of how close they are to the true value.
“Although the sensor showed excellent precision, its readings were consistently two degrees higher than the true temperature.”
In Mechatronics & Robotics
Precision describes the repeatability or consistency of multiple measurements under unchanged conditions. High precision indicates low random variation.
“For the high‑speed assembly robot, a precision of 0.01 mm is required to repeatedly place components without failure.”
Practice: can you use “Precision” at work?
A laboratory records five readings of one certified weight that agree closely but all differ from the certificate value. Ask the learner to compare the precision and the bias of that balance.
Show a model answer
“Repeated trials on the same part reveal the instrument's precision.”
“Precision” in 21 languages
| English | Precision |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kesinlik |
| French | Fidélité |
| German | Präzision |
| Spanish | Precisión |
| Chinese | 精密度 |
| Arabic | الدقة التكرارية |
| Portuguese | Precisão |
| Russian | Прецизионность |
| Japanese | 精度 |
| Italian | Precisione |
| Vietnamese | Độ chụm |
| Hindi | परिशुद्धता |
| Thai | ความเที่ยง |
| Indonesian | Presisi |
| Korean | 정밀도 |
| Bengali | নিখুঁততা |
| Dutch | Precisie |
| Swedish | Precision |
| Finnish | Täsmällisyys |
| Ukrainian | Прецизійність |
Frequently asked questions
What does Precision mean in engineering?
The closeness of agreement between repeated measurements of the same quantity under specified conditions, independent of how near those measurements are to the true value. It reflects the random scatter of a measurement system. In Quality, Testing & Inspection, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Precision?
Precision is pronounced /prɪˈsɪʒən/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Precision used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Ten repeated diameter measurements clustered within two micrometres of each other, demonstrating excellent precision even though the mean sat below the nominal specification.”
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