# calculated

/ˈkæɫkjəˌɫeɪtɪd/ (US) · /kˈælkjʊlˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/calculated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. planned or deliberate

adjective · CEFR B2

carefully planned to achieve a specific result.

For teachers: deliberately planned or intended to produce a particular effect; often used to describe risks or insults.

- The company took a calculated risk when they launched the expensive new phone.
- The politician's silence was a calculated move designed to let the controversy fade before he made a public statement.

### 2. cold and analytical

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

done in a cold way without showing any feelings.

For teachers: characterised by cold, unemotional, and purely analytical thinking, often with a selfish or cruel motive.

- He gave a calculated answer that didn't reveal his true feelings.
- The antagonist's actions were not born of passion, but were the calculated steps of a man who viewed people as mere tools for his advancement.

### 3. mathematically determined

adjective · CEFR B1 · Technical

found or decided by using mathematics.

For teachers: ascertained or determined through mathematical processes or logical computation.

- The calculated distance to the moon is very precise.
- Once the engineers had verified the calculated load-bearing capacity of the bridge, they approved the final construction phase.

## Examples

- I calculated the total cost of the groceries.
- The engineers calculated the exact amount of fuel needed for the return journey to ensure safety.
- By analyzing the light from distant stars, astronomers calculated the expansion rate of the universe with unprecedented accuracy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.