Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person or thing that estimates: An estimator is someone who makes an approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
   • A statistical function: In statistics, an estimator is a rule or formula used to calculate an estimate of a given quantity based on observed data.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person):
  • The project manager hired a cost estimator to predict the budget.
  • She is an experienced estimator for the construction company.
• Noun (Statistical Function):
  • The sample mean is a common estimator for the population mean.
  • Statisticians evaluated the efficiency of the new estimator.

Advanced Usage

• "Unbiased estimator": In statistics, an estimator whose expected value equals the true value of the parameter being estimated.
  • The sample variance formula with (n-1) in the denominator is an unbiased estimator of the population variance.
• "Consistent estimator": An estimator that converges in probability to the true parameter value as the sample size increases.
  • The law of large numbers shows that the sample mean is a consistent estimator.

Variants and Related Words

• Estimate (n/v): An approximate calculation or judgment; to form such a calculation.
  • The contractor provided a written estimate for the repairs.
• Estimation (n): The process of forming an estimate; a judgment or opinion.
  • In my estimation, the work will take three days.

Synonyms

• Appraiser: One who sets a value on something, especially for official purposes.
• Assessor: An official who calculates or estimates the value of something for taxation.
• Calculator: One who computes or figures.

Related Phrases

• Point estimator: A statistic that provides a single value as an estimate of a population parameter.
  • The sample proportion is a point estimator for the population proportion.
• Interval estimator: A rule that specifies a range of plausible values for a parameter (e.g., a confidence interval).
  • A 95% confidence interval is an example of an interval estimator.

Noun

1. an expert at calculation (or at operating calculating machines)