estimator

estimator — noun

1. a person whose job is to calculate the likely cost or value of something before

1.nounB2
Definition

a person whose job is to calculate the likely cost or value of something before a project or repair begins

Example

The construction estimator told the school board that the gym would cost at least two million dollars.

compound noun: construction estimator

Andrew hired an estimator to calculate the cost of renovating the old farmhouse.

Common collocations
  • construction estimator
  • cost estimator
  • insurance estimator
  • kitchen estimator
  • building estimator
  • hire an estimator
  • work as an estimator
  • train as an estimator
  • qualified estimator
  • independent estimator
Synonyms
  • appraiser

    usually focuses on determining the value or worth of something, especially property

  • assessor

    official person who calculates taxes, insurance, or damages

  • valuer

    more common in British English for someone who estimates the price of property or goods

Usage Note

This sense is commonly used in compound nouns that specify the field, such as construction estimator, cost estimator, or insurance estimator.

Common Mistakes

I asked the estimator for a rough number.
I asked the estimator to give me a rough estimate.
estimator refers to the person, not the figure they produce.

2. a calculation of the expected cost, size, or number of something, especially one

2.nounB2
Definition

a calculation of the expected cost, size, or number of something, especially one that is not intended to be exact

Example

In her statistics course, Lucía learned that the sample mean is a reliable estimator of the population average.

statistics term: reliable estimator

The cost estimator for the building project showed a total of nearly two million dollars.

Common collocations
  • cost estimator
  • reliable estimator
  • unbiased estimator
  • final estimator
  • initial estimator
  • provide an estimator
  • produce an estimator
  • revise an estimator
Synonyms
  • estimate

    more common in everyday language; estimator is more formal or technical

  • approximation

    emphasises that the figure is not exact

  • projection

    focuses on a future figure based on current data or trends

Usage Note

More common in technical, business, or statistical contexts than in everyday speech. In statistics, an estimator is a specific rule or method for calculating an estimate from data.

Common Mistakes

I need an estimator of how long the journey will take.
I need an estimate of how long the journey will take.
use estimate for everyday approximate calculations; estimator is more technical.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe professionals who calculate value or quantity, but they differ in scope and context. An estimator focuses on calculating the likely cost of a project or repair before it begins, often in construction or insurance. An appraiser determines the current market value of property, artwork, or other assets. An assessor is typically an official who calculates the value of property for taxation or the amount of damage for insurance claims. A valuer is similar to an appraiser but is the preferred term in British English for property valuation. For example, you hire an estimator before renovating a kitchen, but call an appraiser to find out how much your house is worth, and a tax assessor to challenge your property tax.

appraiserassessor ↗valuer

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'aestimare' meaning 'to value, appraise, or estimate', borrowed into English through French. The suffix '-or' indicates a person or thing that performs an action.

First known use

1611

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1