Word
calibration
Phoneticscal·i·bra·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkæɫəˈbɹeɪʃən/
UK/kˌælɪbɹˈeɪʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. how well an AI model's stated confidence matches its actual chance of being right.
n. the degree of agreement between estimated prediction probabilities and empirical accuracy rates across a distribution of inputs.
Examples
“Good calibration means that when the model says it is eighty percent sure, it is right eight times out of ten.”
“Medical AI systems require rigorous calibration so doctors can trust the system's risk scores.”
“Modern deep neural networks often suffer from poor calibration, exhibiting extreme overconfidence on misclassified test instances.”
Examples
simple
“Good calibration means that when the model says it is eighty percent sure, it is right eight times out of ten.”
contextual
“Medical AI systems require rigorous calibration so doctors can trust the system's risk scores.”
complex
“Modern deep neural networks often suffer from poor calibration, exhibiting extreme overconfidence on misclassified test instances.”
Real-World Examples
“During early calibration tests, the MOTHRA telescope’s array of lenses, which will soon number 1,140, captured stellar debris dissolving into space around the Helix Nebula.” “Delicate electronics, fragile calibration tools or volatile medical supplies may require specialized qualification or shock-absorbing casings to withstand these forces.” “Cloud-based services allow manufacturers to perform OTA software updates, eliminating the need to pay dealers for labor-intensive warranty repairs such as software-related safety recalls, bug fixes, and powertrain calibration errors.” “By enabling efficient calibration of an LLM for a variety of tasks, Thermometer could help users pinpoint situations where a model is overconfident about false predictions, ultimately preventing them from deploying that model in a situation where it may fail.” Etymology
From caliber (French calibre, from Arabic qalib, 'a mold, casting mold for bullets'), referring to measuring barrel bore; transferred to instrument calibration in the 19th century and probability theory in the 20th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/calibration