écart

Écart is a French noun (masculine) that designates the space or distance between two objects, or more generally the difference between two values, opinions, or states. The term can also refer to a margin, a divergence or deviation from a standard, objective, or norm, as well as a detour or departure from a path or plan. In everyday use, it often conveys the idea of a measurable or perceptible gap.

Étymologie: Écart derives from the verb écarter, meaning to separate, widen, or push away. The noun captures the result or act of putting something at a distance or making a distinction between elements.

Uses in mathematics and statistics: In quantitative contexts, écart expresses a difference or dispersion. L’écart-type (standard deviation) measures how much data vary around the mean. L’écart absolu denotes the absolute distance between two quantities, such as a value and its reference. L’écart relatif expresses that distance as a proportion or percentage. The concept also appears in phrases describing residuals or deviations from expected results.

Other domains: In economics, finance, and science, écart refers to a gap or differential, such as a price difference or forecast-versus-actual margin. In sports, the écart describes the margin of victory or defeat. In everyday language, to faire un écart means to deviate from a path, plan, or routine, and écarter can mean to push aside, exclude, or remove from consideration.

See also: écart-type, écartement, distance, marge, deviation.