probabilities
|pro-ba-bil-i-ty|
🇺🇸
/ˌprɑbəˈbɪlɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌprɒbəˈbɪlɪti/
(probability)
likelihood of occurrence
Etymology
'probability' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'probabilitas' (from 'probabilis'), where the root 'probare' meant 'to test, to prove.'
'probability' changed from Late Latin 'probabilitas' and Old French 'probabilité' into Middle English and eventually became the modern English word 'probability'.
Initially it meant 'the quality of being probable or credible'; over time it broadened to include a mathematical sense as 'a numerical measure of likelihood'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'probability': degrees or measures of how likely events or outcomes are to occur; likelihoods or chances.
The probabilities of different outcomes depend on the assumptions we make.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
numerical values (typically between 0 and 1) used in mathematics and statistics to represent the likelihood of events; may refer to probability distributions or functions.
The probabilities were calculated using a Bayesian model.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/09 01:50