Meanings
nounleast squares (uncountable)
- uncountablemathematicsA method of fitting a straight line through a series of points such that the sum of the squares of the residuals is minimized
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna method of fitting a curve to data points so as to minimize the sum of the squares of the distances of the points from the curve
Similar
method of least squares
Broader
statistical methodstatistical procedure
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
APA
least squares. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20squares
MLA
“least squares.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20squares. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “least squares,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/least%20squares.
Source: least squares on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.