order of magnitude
Power of ten
An order of magnitude is a factor of ten—a tenfold difference in size or quantity.
Scientists and engineers use the term to compare vastly different scales: the sun is several orders of magnitude more massive than Earth.
In casual use, the phrase often just means a large difference: The cost overrun was an order of magnitude worse than projected.
Rough numerical estimate
- rough estimateImprecise preliminary calculation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- back-of-envelopeInformal preliminary calculation
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
rounding · significant figures · precision · accuracy · close enough · rough calculation · sanity check · rule of thumb
Measurement showing multiplicative change
- decibelTenth of a bel
- Richter scaleEarthquake strength measurement system
- pH scaleAcidity measurement range
- dynamic rangeSignal amplitude span
log scale · decade · log-log · octave · scientific notation · exponent · powers of ten · mantissa
By a factor of ten
- power of tenTen multiplied by itself
- hundredfoldHundred times over
- thousandfoldMultiplied by a thousand
- quantum leapSudden dramatic advancement
step change · leap · jump · dimensional shift
ballpark figure
Rough numerical estimate
- rough estimateImprecise preliminary calculation
- approximationNear but inexact value
- back-of-envelopeInformal preliminary calculation
guesstimate · rounding · significant figures · precision · accuracy · close enough · rough calculation · sanity check · rule of thumb
logarithmic scale
Measurement showing multiplicative change
- decibelTenth of a bel
- Richter scaleEarthquake strength measurement system
- pH scaleAcidity measurement range
dynamic range · log scale · decade · log-log · octave · scientific notation · exponent · powers of ten · mantissa · characteristic
tenfold
By a factor of ten
- power of tenTen multiplied by itself
- hundredfoldHundred times over
- thousandfoldMultiplied by a thousand
quantum leap · step change · leap · jump · dimensional shift
ratio
Comparative numerical relation
- factorContributor to result
- multipleConsisting of many parts
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
gap · contrast · difference · proportion · dwarfs · eclipses · outstrips · exceeds · surpasses · comparable
- math & science termspi, infinity, zero, billion, million
- estimatesestimate, estimation, ballpark, ballpark estimate, rough estimate
- magnitudesize, extent, scope, scale, bigness
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
- Estimation Typesback-of-envelope, guesstimation, ballpark figures, margin of error, confidence interval
- notationnotation, musical notation, score, sheet music, tablature
order of magnitudepinpoint accuracy
exact amount · significant figures · exactitude · hair's breadth
order of magnituderounding error
Inaccuracy from approximating numbers
hair's breadth · percentage point · nuance · subtle difference · tweaking
order, ordered, disorder, orders, orderly, ordering, disordered, magnitude, orderliness