quantifiable

Quantifiable is an adjective meaning capable of being quantified, that is, capable of being measured or expressed as a numeric value. It contrasts with qualitative, which describes properties not readily expressed in numbers.

In science and analytics, quantifiable data are numeric and amenable to statistical analysis. Quantification is the process of assigning numbers to variables using defined instruments, scales, and units. Ensuring reliability and validity is central to measurement, as is noting potential measurement error and bias.

Common examples include temperature, weight, revenue, duration, and test scores. Some phenomena, such as subjective well-being, attitudes, or aesthetic judgments, may be difficult to quantify or require carefully designed proxies.

Quantifiability enables comparison, aggregation, and modeling across time and contexts, and supports performance metrics, thresholds, and goal setting. However, not every relevant aspect of a situation is quantifiable, and overemphasis on numeric measures can obscure qualitative context or reduce complex phenomena to numbers. Appropriate operationalization and transparency about limitations are essential.

Etymology: the term is derived from quantify, which traces to Latin quantus meaning "how much," with the suffix -able indicating capability.