What is the definition of a 'statistic' in the context of statistics?

In the context of statistics, a 'statistic' is defined as a measure that is calculated from a sample of data. This involves taking a subset of individuals or items from a larger population to derive insights and make inferences about the population as a whole. A statistic can represent various metrics, such as the mean, median, variance, or other numerical summaries that describe the sample's characteristics.

Using a sample rather than the entire population allows for practical analysis, especially when working with large datasets that may be difficult to assess comprehensively. The statistic derived from the sample provides valuable information and serves as a basis for estimating population parameters, conducting hypothesis tests, and performing other inferential statistical procedures.

In contrast, an estimate from a population refers to a parameter, which characterizes the entire group. A characteristic of a population usually identifies the population parameter itself. A fixed value within a dataset often pertains to specific data points rather than the overall summary measures derived from a sample, thereby differentiating it from the definition of a statistic.