statistical anomaly
Unexpected numerical result
A statistical anomaly is a data point or observation that deviates significantly from expected patterns or norms.
Scientists and analysts flag anomalies because they may indicate errors in measurement, unusual events worth investigating, or genuine outliers that challenge assumptions: The spike in September sales was a statistical anomaly we couldn't explain.
The term often appears when someone wants to dismiss an inconvenient finding as unrepresentative rather than meaningful.
- outlierDistant data point
- black swanDark-feathered Australian waterfowl
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- glitchMinor system fault
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
off the charts · blip · irregularity · one in a million · spike · variance · fluctuation · exception · discrepancy · noise · error · skew · unexpected · rare · freak · wild card · scatter · residual
statistical anomalynormal distribution
Bell-shaped probability curve
expected value · mean · average · baseline
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