sta-tis-tics: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
1: a branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses or numerical data.
2: a collection of quantitative data
Origin of STATISTICS
German Statistik study of political facts and figures, from New Latin ststisticus of politics, from Latin status state.
First Known Use: 1770
Copied from Merriiam-Webster.com on 01/15/2014
sta-tis-tics
noun
1. (used with a singular verb) the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data, and that, by use of mathematical theories of probability, imposes order and regularity on aggregates of more or less disparate elements.
2. (used with a plural verb) the numerical facts or data themselves.
Origin: 1780-90; see statistic (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/statistic)
Copied from Dictionary.com on 01/15/2014