Difference between Precise and Accurate or Precision and Accuracy

Definitions :

  • Precision is the degree to which repeated (or reproducible) measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results.
  • Precision is the level of agreement of a particular measurement with itself when it is repeated.
  • Accuracy is the proximity of measurement results to the true value;
  • Accuracy is the fact of being correct and without any mistakes:
Difference between Precise and Accurate or Precision and Accuracy



Assume that Systolic BP is 120 and is measured five times

  • Precise Accurate : 120,120,120,120,120
  • Not precise Accurate : 118,119,120,121,122
  • Precise Not accurate : 130,130,130,130,130
  • Not Precise Not Accurate : 120, 125, 130, 135, 140

Precision : Zero or Low Standard Deviation

Difference between Precise and Accurate or Precision and Accuracy
Difference between Precise and Accurate or Precision and Accuracy. By Pekaje at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1862863