In a set of numbers that measure something — test scores, heights, prices, temperatures — an outlier is the one that sits far away from all the others: much higher, or much lower. If nine students score between 62 and 78 and one scores 12, that 12 is the outlier. Scientists and students use it when they draw a graph: the lonely dot off to the side.

In a set of numbers that measure something在一組用來衡量東西的數字裡 — test scores, heights, prices, temperatures —（像是考試分數、身高、價格、溫度） an outlier離群值 is the one that sits far away from all the others指的是跟其他數字都離得很遠的那一個： much higher, or much lower高很多，或低很多。 If nine students score between 62 and 78如果九個學生的分數都在62到78之間， and one scores 12而有一個人考12分， that 12 is the outlier那個12分就是離群值。 Scientists and students科學家和學生 use it when they draw a graph畫圖表的時候會用這個詞： the lonely dot off to the side指的就是那個孤零零、偏在一旁的點。

The word is a little technical, so you meet it in maths, science, and news stories about data, but it has also wandered into ordinary talk.

The word is a little technical這個字有點技術性， so you meet it in maths, science, and news stories about data所以你會在數學、科學，還有講數據的新聞報導裡碰到它， but it has also wandered into ordinary talk不過它也已經悄悄走進日常對話裡了。

Though actually, when people say someone is an outlier they often mean a person who does not fit the group, not a number. That is a stretch of the same picture — lying outside the cluster — and you will hear it. This entry is the number sense, the one from the classroom.

Though actually不過其實， when people say someone is an outlier當有人說某人是outlier的時候， they often mean a person who does not fit the group常常是指一個跟團體格格不入的人， not a number而不是一個數字。 That is a stretch of the same picture這是同一個畫面的延伸用法 — lying outside the cluster —（躺在整群之外） and you will hear it你會聽到人這樣用。 This entry is the number sense這個條目講的是數字的意思， the one from the classroom也就是課堂上教的那個。

People sometimes drop an outlier before they take an average, because one wild number can pull the average into a lie; that can be wise, and it can also hide a real result, so the careful habit is to look at why it is so far away first.

People sometimes drop an outlier before they take an average人們算平均值之前，有時候會先把outlier拿掉， because one wild number can pull the average into a lie因為一個離譜的數字會把平均值拉到失真； that can be wise這樣做可以是明智的， and it can also hide a real result但也可能藏住一個真實的結果， so the careful habit is to look at why it is so far away first所以謹慎的做法是先弄清楚它為什麼會離那麼遠。