precise

Precise is an adjective used to describe exactness, clarity, or specificity. It denotes statements, measurements, or actions that are carefully defined with minimal ambiguity. In everyday use, to be precise means giving exact details or being meticulous.

The word derives from Middle French precis, from Latin precisus, meaning cut off, separated, or exact; the related noun précis denotes a concise summary of a text.

In measurement and science, precision and accuracy are distinct concepts. Precision refers to repeatability or consistency of measurements—how close multiple measurements are to one another. Accuracy refers to closeness to the true value. High precision does not guarantee high accuracy.

In computing, precision describes the number of digits used to represent a number or the resolution of an operation, such as single or double precision in floating-point arithmetic. In writing, precise language aims for unambiguous expression and exact terminology.