probability
probability Lexical Profile
probability Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The quality or state of being likely to happen, exist, or be true; likelihood.
"There is a high probability that the flight will be delayed due to the heavy fog."
A branch of mathematics that measures the quantitative likelihood that a given event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1, or the specific numerical value itself.
"In our statistics course, we calculated the exact probability of drawing two aces in a row from a standard deck of cards."
Something that is likely to happen or be true; a probable event, outcome, or circumstance.
"Before placing the order, the project manager weighed all the probabilities of a supply chain disruption."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Possibility' indicates that something could happen regardless of how likely it is, whereas 'probability' indicates that an event is reasonably likely to happen or refers to its mathematical measure of likelihood.
• Rhymes for probability
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Middle French probabilité and directly from Latin probabilitas ('credibility, likelihood'), derived from probabilis ('provable, credible'), from probare ('to test, prove, or approve').