adjective / verb

approximate

uh-PRAHK-sih-mut/əˈprɑːksɪmət/

Being or coming close to an actual value or quality without matching it exactly.

The flour bag's approximate weight is one kilogram; the scale reads 998 grams.

A flour bag marked 1 kg sits on a digital kitchen scale reading 998 g: its stated weight is close to the measured value, but not exact.

Etymology

Proximare means “come near,” and approximate originally described nearness in position. Physical closeness became closeness in accuracy: an approximate value is near the actual value rather than exactly equal to it.

In context

Old Time Radio Researchers11:10

a 15 minute period multiplied by four to get an hourly figure and a day then a week and so forth only approximate of course but the figure comes out amazingly close

Ranger Bill - Burning Sands

More examples

Please give us an approximate arrival time.
These rounded figures approximate the actual costs.
The fabric approximates the softness of silk.

Forms

approximate · approximates · approximated · approximating

approximation noun — Something close to, but not exactly, another.

approximately adverb — Close to an amount, but not exactly.

Similar words

estimated: Based on judgment or calculation rather than exact measurement.
rough: Emphasizes limited precision, often in an early calculation.
approach: As a verb, suggests nearing a value or standard.