probability

probability
[[t]prɒ̱bəbɪ̱lɪti[/t]]
probabilities
1) N-VAR The probability of something happening is how likely it is to happen, sometimes expressed as a fraction or a percentage.

Without a transfusion, the victim's probability of dying was 100%...

The probabilities of crime or victimization are higher with some situations than with others...

You cannot prove conclusively that Sellafield caused cancer. You can only work on the basis of probability.

Syn:
2) N-VAR (vagueness) You say that there is a probability that something will happen when it is likely to happen.

There's an excellent probability that unless action is quickly taken, pipes will freeze...

If you've owned property for several years, the probability is that values have increased...

Formal talks are still said to be a possibility, not a probability...

His story-telling can push the bounds of probability a bit far at times.

3) PHRASE: PHR with cl (vagueness) If you say that something will happen in all probability, you mean that you think it is very likely to happen.

The Republicans had better get used to the fact that in all probability, they are going to lose...

In all probability, the final upturn in their fortunes is some months away yet.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Probability — is the likelihood or chance that something is the case or will happen. Probability theory is used extensively in areas such as statistics, mathematics, science and philosophy to draw conclusions about the likelihood of potential events and the… …   Wikipedia

  • probability — ► NOUN (pl. probabilities) 1) the extent to which something is probable. 2) a probable or most probable event. ● in all probability Cf. ↑in all probability …   English terms dictionary

  • Probability — Prob a*bil i*ty, n.; pl. {Probabilities}. [L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilit[ e].] [1913 Webster] 1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood. [1913 Webster] Probability …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • probability — probability, probability distribution See distribution (statistical or frequency)}} ; sampling ; significance tests ; …   Dictionary of sociology

  • probability — [präb΄ə bil′ə tē] n. pl. probabilities [MFr probabilité < L probabilitas] 1. the quality or state of being probable; likelihood 2. something probable 3. Math. the ratio of the number of times something will probably occur to the total number… …   English World dictionary

  • probability — I noun anticipation, appearance of truth, believability, chance, conceivability, credibility, credibleness, expectation, fair chance, fair expectation, favorable chance, liability, liableness, likelihood, likeliness, odds, ostensibility,… …   Law dictionary

  • Probability —   [engl.], Wahrscheinlichkeit …   Universal-Lexikon

  • probability — (n.) mid 15c., quality of being probable, from O.Fr. probabilite (14c.) and directly from L. probabilitatem (nom. probabilitas), from probabilis (see PROBABLE (Cf. probable)). Meaning “something likely to be true” is from 1570s; mathematical… …   Etymology dictionary

  • probability — [n] likelihood of something happening anticipation, chance, chances, conceivability, contingency, credibility, expectation, feasibility, hazard, liability, likeliness, odds, outside chance*, plausibility, possibility, practicability, prayer,… …   New thesaurus

  • probability — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ high, real, strong ▪ There is a high probability that it will snow tonight. ▪ greater, increased ▪ low …   Collocations dictionary

  • probability — The mathematics of probability is well understood. Probability is a non negative, additive set function whose maximum value is unity. What is harder to understand is the application of the formal notion to the actual world. One point of… …   Philosophy dictionary

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