probability
Pluralprobabilities
- 1How likely something is to happen, compared to other outcomes.
Like guessing the chance that a flipped coin will land on heads.
The probability of rain this afternoon is quite high.
Forecasters weigh the probability of each outcome before issuing a warning.
Similarlikelihood, chance, odds, risk
- 2The fact that something is likely to be true or to happen.
Like how sure you feel that a cloudy sky means rain is coming.
There was a strong probability that the meeting would be canceled.
Few doubted the probability of war once the talks collapsed.
Similarlikelihood, chance
Oppositeimprobability
Note
- 3Something that will most likely happen.
Like a dark sky that tells you rain is on the way.
A delay is a real probability given the heavy traffic.
Snow remains a probability throughout the weekend.
Similarlikelihood, prospect, possibility
Oppositeimprobability
Note
- 4A number from 0 to 1 that shows how likely something is to happen.
Like a score from 0 to 1, where 0 means it can't happen and 1 means it's certain.
The probability of flipping heads on a fair coin is one half.
We wrote the probability as a decimal between zero and one.
Similarchance
Note
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Origin
It comes from Latin, from a word meaning 'probable' or 'believable', and reached English through French.