sigma
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/ˈsɪɡmə/
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A Greek alphabet letter used as a symbol in science and statistics, and in modern slang a self-reliant outsider archetype.
Examples
Calling someone a sigma usually suggests independence, not leadership.
The joke compared the loner character to a sigma.
In the Greek alphabet, sigma follows rho.
The meme praised the sigma for ignoring the crowd.
Ancient inscriptions used forms of sigma that changed over time.
Similar words
sigma letter
population standard deviation
standard deviation
nonconformist
sigma symbol
sigma value
maverick
outsider
Greek S
spread
Meanings
Examples
The lowercase sigma is written as σ.
Uppercase Sigma appears as Σ in Greek text.
In the Greek alphabet, sigma follows rho.
Ancient inscriptions used forms of sigma that changed over time.
The word sigma names a Greek letter, not the Latin letter S.
Final sigma has a special lowercase form in Greek.
Many scientific symbols are based on sigma.
Similar words
Greek letter sigma
sigma letter
sigma symbol
Greek S
Examples
The sigma of the sample was 2.4.
A larger sigma shows that the data are more spread out.
The formula uses sigma for the population standard deviation.
Engineers tracked sigma to measure process variation.
The report lists the mean and sigma for each group.
A low sigma can signal more consistent measurements.
The model assumes a sigma of one.
Similar words
standard deviation
population standard deviation
dispersion
spread
sigma value
Examples
He was described online as a sigma because he avoids status games.
The film presents its hero as a quiet sigma who works alone.
Social media often treats the sigma as an outsider success story.
Calling someone a sigma usually suggests independence, not leadership.
The joke compared the loner character to a sigma.
Fans read the protagonist as a sigma figure.
The meme praised the sigma for ignoring the crowd.
Etymology
From Latin sigma, from Greek sigma, the name of the Greek letter.
FAQ
Sigma can mean the Greek letter σ or Σ, a symbol for standard deviation, or slang for an independent person.
What does sigma mean as slang?
As slang, sigma describes a self-reliant person portrayed as succeeding outside traditional social hierarchies.
Is sigma the same as alpha?
No. Alpha is framed as dominant inside a hierarchy, while sigma is framed as independent of that hierarchy.
What is sigma in statistics?
In statistics, sigma often means standard deviation, especially the population standard deviation.
What is sigma in the Greek alphabet?
Sigma is the eighteenth Greek letter, written σ in lowercase and Σ in uppercase.
Is sigma a formal personality type?
No. The slang sense is an internet archetype, not a formal psychological category.
Where does sigma come from?
The word comes through Latin from Greek sigma, the name of the Greek letter.
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