overdispersion

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noun

The presence of greater dispersion in a data set than would be expected according to the statistical model in use.

OriginEnglish dispersion ← Middle English over- ← Old English ofer- →
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Meanings

nounoverdispersion (plural overdispersions)

plural overdispersions

  1. mathematicsThe presence of greater dispersion in a data set than would be expected according to the statistical model in use.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Germanic*uber
  4. Old Englishofer-
  5. Middle Englishover-
  6. Englishover-
  7. Englishdispersion
  8. Englishoverdispersion

From over- + dispersion.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

overdispersion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdispersion

MLA

“overdispersion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdispersion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overdispersion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overdispersion.

Source: overdispersion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.