p-value

noun

In statistical significance testing, the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one that was actually observed, assuming that the null hypothesis is true.

Similar
asymptotic significanceprobability value

Meanings

nounp-value (plural p-values)

plural p-values

  1. mathematicsIn statistical significance testing, the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one that was actually observed, assuming that the null hypothesis is true.
    1 more example

    The larger the p-value the smaller the chance of a difference. A p-value of 1.00 means 0 % chance of a difference, while a p-value of 0.95 means a chance of difference close to 0. A p-value of > 0.95 literally means that we have > 95 per cent chance of finding a result less close to expectation, which means a chance of < (1-0.95) , i.e., < 0.05 of finding a result this close or closer. Using the traditional 5 per cent decision level, this would mean, that we have a strong argument that such […]

    2008, Ton J. Cleophas, A.H. Zwinderman, Toine F. Cleophas, Eugene P. Cleophas, Statistics Applied to Clinical Trials, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 145

    Synonyms: asymptotic significance, probability value

Synonyms & antonyms

nounIn statistical significance testing, the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one that was actually observed, assuming that the null hypothesis is true.

Similar
asymptotic significanceprobability value

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

p-value. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/p-value

MLA

“p-value.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/p-value. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “p-value,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/p-value.

Source: p-value on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.