# frequency

## English

### Etymology

From Latin frequentia, from frequens.

### Pronunciation

• enPR: frĕʹkwən-sē, IPA(key): /ˈfriːkwənsi/

### Noun

frequency ‎(plural frequencies)

1. (uncountable) The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
• With growing confidence, the Viking’s raids increased in frequency.
• The frequency of bus service has been improved from 15 to 12 minutes.
2. (uncountable) The property of occurring often rather than infrequently.
• The FAQ addresses questions that come up with some frequency.
• The frequency of the visits was what annoyed him.
3. (countable) The quotient of the number of times ${\displaystyle n}$ a periodic phenomenon occurs over the time ${\displaystyle t}$ in which it occurs: ${\displaystyle f=n/t}$.
• The frequency of the musical note A above middle C is 440 oscillations per second.
• The frequency of a wave is its velocity ${\displaystyle v}$ divided by its wavelength ${\displaystyle \lambda }$: ${\displaystyle f=v/\lambda }$.
• Broadcasting live at a frequency of 98.3 megahertz, we’re your rock alternative!
• The frequency for electric power in the Americas is generally 60 Hz rather than 50.
4. (statistics) number of times an event occurred in an experiment (absolute frequency)

#### Antonyms

• (rate of occurrence): period

#### Translations

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