MAE
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Mean absolute error |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Medical, Law & Legal |
MAE has three meanings. The most common are Mean absolute error (statistics) and Moves all extremities (patient assessment); it can also stand for Material adverse effect.
Meanings of MAE at a glance
| # | MAE stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mean absolute error | Units & Measurements › Statistics |
| 2 | Moves all extremities | Medical › Patient Assessment |
| 3 | Material adverse effect | Law & Legal › Contract |
1. Mean absolute error
Units & Measurements · Statistics Abbreviations · also used in technology
The average of the absolute differences between predictions and actual values, expressed in the outcome's units. It is easy to interpret and less sensitive to outliers than RMSE.
Example: Delivery-time predictions have an MAE of 6 minutes.
Minimizing MAE leads to median-type predictions, while minimizing MSE leads to mean-type predictions, a difference that matters for skewed outcomes. Forecasters often report MAE and RMSE side by side. Unlike MAPE, it is not scale-free, so it cannot compare series of very different sizes.
2. Moves all extremities
Medical · Patient Assessment Abbreviations
Neurological screening finding that the patient can move both arms and both legs on command or spontaneously. It is a fast check in triage, newborn exams and postoperative assessments.
Example: Neuro: alert, MAE on command, speech clear, no facial droop.
MAE says nothing about strength, so a stroke patient with subtle weakness may still move all limbs. Strength is described separately on a 0 to 5 scale. Infants are observed for symmetric spontaneous movement instead of commands.
3. Material adverse effect
Law & Legal · Contract Abbreviations
Defined term in acquisition agreements describing an event serious enough to excuse the buyer from closing, usually tied to the target's representations or a closing condition. The definition typically excludes industry-wide and market-wide events unless the target is disproportionately affected.
Example: Buyer argued the collapse in sales was an MAE that excused its obligation to close.
Akorn, Inc. v. Fresenius Kabi AG (Del. Ch. 2018), affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court, was the first time a Delaware court let a buyer terminate a merger because of an MAE. During the COVID-19 pandemic many buyers invoked MAE clauses, prompting litigation and new pandemic-specific carve-outs in later deals.
Related abbreviations
More statistics abbreviations
- LDA – Linear discriminant analysis
- LLN – Law of large numbers
- M – Mean (APA style)
- MAD – Mean absolute deviation
- MANOVA – Multivariate analysis of variance
- MAP – Maximum a posteriori
- MAPE – Mean absolute percentage error
- MAR – Missing at random
See all 88 statistics abbreviations →
More patient assessment abbreviations
- LAD – Lymphadenopathy
- LLE – Left lower extremity
- LOC – Level of consciousness
- LUE – Left upper extremity
- MAEW – Moves all extremities well
- MEWS – Modified Early Warning Score
- MMM – Moist mucous membranes
- NABS – Normoactive bowel sounds
See all 65 patient assessment abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical or legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.