statistics Look up statistics at Dictionary.com
1770, "science dealing with data about the condition of a state or community," from Ger. Statistik, popularized and perhaps coined by Ger. political scientist Gottfried Aschenwall (1719-72) in his "Vorbereitung zur Staatswissenschaft" (1748), from Mod.L. statisticum (collegium) "(lecture course on) state affairs," from It. statista "one skilled in statecraft," from L. status (see state (n.1)). Meaning "numerical data collected and classified" is from 1829. Abbreviated form stats first recorded 1961. Statistician is from 1825.