Measurement uncertainty
Updated 2026-10-27
Data records
- Measurement uncertainty is a parameter attached to a measurement result that characterizes the spread of values that could reasonably be attributed to the measured quantity. It is evaluated from the statistical analysis of repeated observations and from other knowledge such as calibration certificates, instrument specifications and the behavior of the reference standards used.
- The NIST reference on measurement uncertainty represents every component of uncertainty, whichever way it was evaluated, by an estimated standard deviation called a standard uncertainty, and separates Type A evaluation, which uses the statistical analysis of repeated observations, from Type B evaluation, which uses any other means. It traces the uncertainty of a result to the uncertainties of the input quantities in the measurement equation, which include corrections and the effects of different observers, instruments, samples and times of observation.
Sources
- Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy, Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy of test methods, 2026-10 edition, Electrical Testing Reference. Held as: Own observation.
- NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty, Basic definitions of uncertainty, web page edition, NIST. Held as: Government work. Publisher page
Changelog (5 entries)
| Date | Revision | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.measurement-uncertainty.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.measurement-uncertainty.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.measurement-uncertainty.usage) | |
| 2026-10-27 | revised (gloss.measurement-uncertainty.usage) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.measurement-uncertainty.usage) |
Cite this page
Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.
"Measurement uncertainty." Test Instrument Reference. 2026-10-27. https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/measurement-uncertainty/.
Test Instrument Reference, Measurement uncertainty (Oct. 27, 2026), https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/measurement-uncertainty/.
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organization = {Test Instrument Reference},
publisher = {Test Instrument Reference},
year = {2026},
note = {last substantive change 2026-10-27}
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