bell curve

noun

plural bell curves
: the symmetrical bell-shaped curve of a normal distribution : normal curve
Along the hilly slopes of the bell curve, most values—the data points that track whatever is being measured—are clustered around the middle. The average value is also the most common value.David A. Shaywitz

Examples of bell curve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The bell curve reminds us that only a small percentage of our students will achieve measurable fame and fortune, but the majority of them should be able to achieve, with the support of parents, teachers and the community, a level of personal satisfaction and empowerment. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 27 May 2025 Second, adhering to the statistical concept of the bell curve distribution is a reductive form of evaluation. Dr. Lisa Toppin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 For example, the bell curve method doesn't account for teams where no one performs poorly or where everyone is outstanding. Dr. Lisa Toppin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Every biological system, from individual organisms to entire species, follows a bell curve, not a growth curve. Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bell curve

Word History

Etymology

from the shape

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bell curve was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“Bell curve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bell%20curve. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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