adjective

quantitative

KWON-ti-tay-tiv

Quantitative (adjective) means Concerned with amounts and numbers rather than qualities — measured, counted or expressed as a figure. Example: “The study collected quantitative data on how many hours students slept.”

adjective

Concerned with amounts and numbers rather than qualities — measured, counted or expressed as a figure.

"The study collected quantitative data on how many hours students slept."

"We need quantitative evidence, not a handful of anecdotes."

Of finance and trading: driven by mathematical models and statistical analysis rather than judgement.

"She left the bank to join a quantitative hedge fund."

How to Use Quantitative

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with numbers and how much of something there is.

When to use it

Neutral but academic. Everyday speech usually just says 'numbers' or 'figures'.

Memory tip

Quantitative answers 'how many' or 'how much'; qualitative answers 'what is it like'. The two words differ by a single syllable and are easy to mistype.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

qualitative → quantitive

Common pairings

quantitative research quantitative data quantitative analysis quantitative easing

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The study collected _____ data on how many hours students slept.

Etymology

From Latin quantitas 'quantity, extent', itself from quantus 'how much'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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numerical measurable statistical numeric quant algorithmic model-driven

Antonyms

qualitative

Related Words

quality statistical Kent mathematical finite numerical measurable qualitative

Rhymes for quantitative

five give dive live olive drive alive strive derive active arrive native

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative?

Quantitative research measures things and produces numbers — counts, scores, percentages. Qualitative research explores meaning and experience through interviews, observation and open-ended answers, and produces descriptions rather than figures. Many studies deliberately combine both.

Is quantitive a real word?

It appears in some dictionaries as a rare variant, but in modern academic and professional writing quantitative is the standard form and quantitive will usually be read as a typo.

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