TSE ISO/IEC Guide 99

TSE ISO/IEC Guide 99 is the edition of the International Vocabulary of Metrology that defines the basic and general concepts used in metrology in a shared technical language. In this field, the value of the document is not limited to naming terms: it also organises how the concepts relate to each other, helping users interpret key ideas such as measurement, uncertainty, value and accuracy within one coherent framework.

How metrology concepts are organised

This guide provides definitions and associated terms for the basic and general concepts used in metrology, together with concept diagrams that show how those terms are connected. Many definitions are supplemented by examples and notes. That structure is useful because it does more than define words: it clarifies the conceptual hierarchy behind the measurement process and the relationships between terms that are often used together but are not interchangeable.

Why it matters in measurement practice

In general technical context, metrology is the science that supports consistent, comparable and interpretable measurements. The VIM terminology helps laboratories, calibration services, quality systems and technical documentation use ideas such as measurand, measurement result, measurement uncertainty and traceability in a consistent way across disciplines. When these terms are standardised, technical communication becomes clearer and the interpretation of results is less ambiguous.

This publication presents the metrological concept structure alongside English and French terms, making it easier to read measurement-related documents with attention to conceptual meaning rather than simple translation. It serves as a foundational reference for anyone who needs to understand the vocabulary behind modern measurement science.

• Definitions for basic and general metrology concepts
• Associated terms and diagrams showing concept relationships
• Examples and notes included under many definitions
• English and French term set for conceptual alignment