Pareto principle

proper noun

The principle that describes the phenomenon wherein a small percentage of a population accounts for a large proportion of a particular characteristic of that population.

Similar
Pareto's law80-20 rule20-80 rule
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Meanings

proper nounthe Pareto principle
  1. The principle that describes the phenomenon wherein a small percentage of a population accounts for a large proportion of a particular characteristic of that population.

    Synonyms: Pareto's law, 80-20 rule, 20-80 rule

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounThe principle that describes the phenomenon wherein a small percentage of a population accounts for a large proportion of a particular characteristic of that population.

Similar
Pareto's law80-20 rule20-80 rule
Also see
20-80 rule80-20 rulepareto's law

Origin

From Vilfredo Pareto, Italian economist.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 帕雷托法則 /帕雷托法则
  • 帕雷托法則 /帕雷托法则 (Pàléituō fǎzé)principle
Czech Paretův princip
  • Paretův principprinciple
Esperanto principo de Pareto
  • principo de Paretoprinciple
Finnish Pareton periaate
  • Pareton periaateprinciple
Russian при́нцип Паре́то
  • при́нцип Паре́то (príncip Paréto)principle
Cite this entry
APA

Pareto principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pareto%20principle

MLA

“Pareto principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pareto%20principle. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pareto principle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pareto%20principle.

Source: Pareto principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.