# likelihood

Pronunciation: US say "LYK-lee-huud" /ˈlaɪklihʊd/; UK

## Noun

1. The chance that a particular outcome will occur; the degree to which something is probable.
   - Simple: The chance that something will happen.
   - _Analysts weighed the likelihood of a market downturn before advising their clients._
   - _Early treatment greatly increases the likelihood of a full recovery._
2. The probability that a fixed set of observed data would arise from a random distribution with a particular parameter value.
   - Simple: A number showing how well a chosen value fits the data you already have.
   - _Statisticians maximize the likelihood to find the parameter values that best explain the data._
   - _The model with the greater likelihood was chosen as the better fit._
3. The quality of resembling something else, or the degree to which two things are alike.
   - Simple: The quality of being like something else, or how much two things are alike.

## Noun

4. An outward appearance, show, or sign that indicates or promises something. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: An outward sign or look that points to something.
   - _The boy gave every likelihood of becoming a fine scholar._
   - _There was little likelihood of welcome in their cold faces._

## Origin

From Middle English liklihode, formed from 'likely' plus the suffix '-hood'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/likelihood (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).