Knownmeasured

Knownmeasured is a term used in metrology and data reporting to describe a quantitative value that has been obtained by direct measurement with a calibrated instrument, accompanied by a documented measurement uncertainty and traceability to a standards framework. The term signals that both the numeric result and its uncertainty are known and specified, rather than estimated or inferred.

Characteristics of knownmeasured data include a measured value, an associated standard uncertainty or confidence interval, documentation of the measurement method, details of the instrument and its calibration status, and traceability to measurement standards. In many cases, the uncertainty budget is itemized to account for sources such as repeatability, instrument resolution, environmental effects, and reference standards.

Origins and scope: The phrase is used in laboratory practice and data-processing workflows to distinguish measured quantities from values that are computed from models, literature values, or assumptions. It supports reproducibility and auditability by making both the result and its uncertainty explicit.

Applications: Knownmeasured values appear in experimental reports, calibration certificates, quality assurance records, and process-control data where decisions depend on quantified uncertainty. They facilitate comparisons between laboratories and over time.

Examples: A temperature reading of 23.56 °C with a standard uncertainty of 0.05 °C, traceable to ITS-90; a mass measurement of 12.345 g with a standard uncertainty of 0.002 g, traceable to kilogram standards.

See also: metrology, measurement uncertainty, traceability, calibration, uncertainty budget, repeatability.