Decile: meaning, definitions and examples
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decile
[ ˈdɛsaɪl ]
statistical measurement
A decile is a statistical term that refers to the value of a dataset that divides the data into ten equal parts. Each part represents 10% of the data set. Deciles are useful in understanding the distribution of data and are commonly used in statistical analysis.
Synonyms
percentile group, tenth.
Examples of usage
- The income distribution can be grouped into deciles for better analysis.
- In the test scores, the top decile represents the highest 10% of students.
- Researchers categorized the population into deciles based on their survey responses.
Etymology
The word 'decile' is derived from the Latin word 'decimus', meaning 'tenth'. The concept of dividing a whole into ten parts has been used in various fields, such as statistics and social sciences, since the late 19th century. The term began appearing in English literature around the early 20th century as the study of statistics became more formalized. Its use has broadened to encompass various analyses where data is segmented into ten equal parts for clearer interpretation and understanding, especially in economic and educational assessments.