F-test
|ef-test|
/ˈɛf.tɛst/
ratio of variances (F)
Etymology
'F-test' originates from English, specifically the letter 'F' derived from the surname 'Fisher', where 'F' referred to 'Fisher' (Sir Ronald A. Fisher) whose work formalized the related statistic and distribution.
'F-test' evolved from earlier uses such as the 'variance ratio test' and the 'F statistic' introduced in early 20th-century statistical literature (associated with R. A. Fisher and popularized in textbooks by authors such as G. W. Snedecor), eventually becoming the standard modern term 'F-test'.
Initially it referred specifically to a ratio-based test statistic associated with Fisher's derivation of the F-distribution, but over time it has come to denote the broader class of tests that use that F statistic (e.g., tests of variance equality and ANOVA tests of mean differences).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a statistical test that compares two sample variances by forming their ratio; the test statistic follows an F-distribution (often called the variance-ratio test).
The researchers performed an F-test to compare the variances of the two groups.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis, the F-test assesses whether group means or model fits differ significantly by comparing between-group and within-group variances or explained vs. unexplained variance.
The ANOVA table showed an F-test indicating a significant effect of the treatment.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/28 17:00