regression to the mean

noun

The phenomenon by which extreme examples from any set of data are likely to be followed by examples which are less extreme; a tendency towards the average of any sample. For example, the offspring of two very tall individuals tend to be tall, but closer to the average (mean) than either of their parents.

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Meanings

nounregression to the mean (plural regressions to the mean)

plural regressions to the mean · alternative regression toward the mean

  1. mathematicsThe phenomenon by which extreme examples from any set of data are likely to be followed by examples which are less extreme; a tendency towards the average of any sample. For example, the offspring of two very tall individuals tend to be tall, but closer to the average (mean) than either of their parents.

Translations

Finnish regressio kohti keskiarvoa
  • regressio kohti keskiarvoastatistical phenomenon
Cite this entry
APA

regression to the mean. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/regression%20to%20the%20mean

MLA

“regression to the mean.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/regression%20to%20the%20mean. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “regression to the mean,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/regression%20to%20the%20mean.

Source: regression to the mean on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.