Accuracy means how close something is to being correct or true. When you measure the length of your desk with a ruler and get 36 inches, and the desk really is 36 inches long, your measurement was accurate. When an archer's arrow hits the center of the target, that's an accurate shot.

Accuracy matters in many situations. Scientists need accurate measurements in their experiments, or their conclusions will be wrong. A GPS needs to be accurate to get you to the right address. When you're doing math homework, accuracy means getting the exact solution the problem requires.

The word is related to precision, but they're not quite the same thing. If you measure that desk five times and get 36 inches every time, you're being precise. But if the desk is actually 40 inches long, your measurements are precise but not accurate. True accuracy means hitting the right answer, not just being consistent.

People often talk about the accuracy of information too. An accurate news report gets the facts right. An accurate description of what happened at recess tells the true story, without exaggerating or leaving out important details.