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probability

probability

473 3.6
The chance that something will happen, often shown as a number or percent
  • noun
  • /ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti/
translation icon : probabilidad
  • Doctors often discuss the probability of recovery based on a patient's condition.
  • a low probability
  • a high probability
  • probability of success

Is it because we don't understand probability or or what?

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Examples

  • The probability of rain tomorrow is 70 percent, so you should take an umbrella.

  • These are called low probability but high consequence events.

  • But if we're looking long term, your probability of winning goes way up.

  • So, I realize that the probability of me winning this contest - is very, very low...

  • These are called low probability, high consequence events.

  • Do you know what the mathematical probability of that is?

  • But such views underestimate the probability that China will be economically dominant in 20 years.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Also, students who are not economically disadvantaged have the smallest probability of dropping out.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And I'd say there's a 60 percent probability he's there.

  • Probability is like gravity.

Synonyms

chance
vsprobability
1.0

Possibility that something will happen, often an opportunity or risk

is the more technical idea often represented by numbers or percentages
likelihood
vsprobability
274 3.6

The chance that something will happen

is a general concept not always presented as a number
odds of
vsprobability
106 3.5

The chance that something will happen

is the broad notion that can be shown without such comparisons
chance of rain
vsprobability
5 2.2

How likely it is to rain at a time or place

is the general concept not limited to weather predictions
odds
vsprobability
2 3.4

The chance that something will happen, often shown by numbers used for betting

is the wider idea used beyond betting and numeric contexts
likeliness
vsprobability
3.6

The chance that something will happen

is often expressed quantitatively rather than as a simple statement

Antonyms

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4

A strong feeling that something is true or will happen

37 5.3

A situation in which something cannot happen

How unlikely something is to happen or be true

Idioms

Very likely to happen or be true

Compounds

probability theory
  • Specialized
3 5.0

Part of math that studies chance and random events

1 6.7

The chance that an event happens when you know another event already happened

probability theorist
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A mathematician who studies chance and random events

theory of probability
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A part of math that studies chance and how likely events are

9.2

The chance that something happens after something else has happened

joint probability
  • Specialized
6.7

The chance that both events happen at the same time

How Likely

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4
likelihood
274 3.6
probability
473 3.6
chance
1.0
impossibility
37 5.3

Surface Forms

probability singular
probabilities plural

Morphology

probability = probable (transparent) = probable + ity

A regular noun formation from the adjective 'probable' using the productive suffix '-ity' yielding the abstract noun denoting likelihood, so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Probability comes from the Latin word probare, which means 'to test' or 'to prove', and it shares the same root as the everyday words prove and probable. So probability is a way to show how 'likely' something is to happen.