One of nine values that divide a distribution of data into ten equal parts; a statistical measure used to understand how values are spread across a population.
From Latin 'decem' (ten) plus the French suffix '-ile.' This statistical term emerged in the early 20th century alongside percentiles and quartiles as statisticians needed vocabulary to describe data divisions.
If you earn more than 90% of people, you're in the ninth decile—but most people never hear the word 'decile' because income inequality discussions use 'percentile' instead. Deciles were actually invented first but are now mainly used in specialized statistical contexts.
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