Skip to main content
trendline

trendline

2 4.1
A line on a graph that shows how numbers move over time
  • noun
  • /ˈtrɛndˌlaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : línea de tendencia
  • I have taken the Reuters chart composed by Scott Barber and drawn a couple of trendlines and overlaid a chart of the S&P 500 to illustrate.

Examples

  • The trendlines in most of the competitive Senate races and a wide variety of House races are moving toward the Democrats.

    Blog text (10)
  • The chart clearly illustrates a trendline that shows the overall increase in sales over the past year.

  • The trendline seems to be away from approval, though.

    Blog text (9)
  • Still, they are on a positive trendline towards equality and shared prosperity.

    Blog text (19)
  • Note that the trendline on both graphs is essentially flat.

    Blog text (27)
  • Run a Google image search for "cannabis Gallup poll" and look at the trendline.

    Blog text (25)
  • The IPCC curves represent the long-term trendlines.

    Blog text (30)
  • The real estate sector is not done shrinking yet, and the job/wage growth trendlines have been stagnant since what?

    Blog text (12)
  • Economists analyzed the data, noting the trendline indicated a gradual decline in unemployment rates.

  • By examining the trendline on the graph, we can see how temperatures have fluctuated over the last decade.

Synonyms

trend line
vstrendline
  • Specialized
9 3.5

A straight line on a graph showing the general direction of data points

is the same meaning but written as one word
regression line
vstrendline
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A straight or smooth curved line drawn through dots shows how two numbers change together

emphasizes overall trend over time instead of a modelled relationship
plot line
vstrendline
  • Specialized
3.5

The line on a graph that shows how a number changes over time

focuses on overall direction or pattern rather than exact values
regression curve
vstrendline
  • Specialized
6.4

A smooth line or curve fitted to data points to show how two things are related

represents simpler directional pattern across time rather than an analytic curve

How Clear

trendline
  • Specialized
2 4.1
noise
  • Specialized
172 5.6

Surface Forms

trendline singular
trendlines plural

Morphology

trendline = trend + line (transparent) = trend + line

A straightforward compound where 'trend' (general direction) and 'line' (a drawn line) combine to denote a line showing a trend on a chart.

Etymology

The word trendline combines trend ('direction' or 'general movement') and line ('straight mark'), so it is literally a line that shows the direction or pattern of data on a graph, and that's why a trendline helps you see whether numbers are going up or down over time.