fudge factor
nounDefinition of fudge factor
: an arbitrary mathematical term inserted into a calculation in order to arrive at an expected solution or to allow for errors especially of underestimation
broadly
: any arbitrary unspecified factor
Examples of fudge factor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Add in a fudge factor of another 20 miles, and searchers ended up with a search box that stretched 40 nautical miles on either side of the final ping arc. — Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, "Where Did the Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Go So Wrong?," 22 July 2016 The hope is to string together results from different size scales in a way that minimizes the need for fudge factors, researchers say. — Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, "Galaxy simulations are at last matching reality—and producing surprising insights into cosmic evolution," 30 May 2018 The work on counting universes arose from an effort to understand a fudge factor known as the cosmological constant, an antigravitational force associated with empty space that Einstein invented in 1917 to explain why the universe was stable. — Dennis Overbye, New York Times, "Joseph Polchinski, 63, Leading Theorist on Multiple Universes, Dies," 7 Feb. 2018 Nor is there any better explanation for Einstein’s fudge factor. — Dennis Overbye, New York Times, "Joseph Polchinski, 63, Leading Theorist on Multiple Universes, Dies," 7 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fudge factor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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