likelihood
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English
Alternative forms
- likelyhood (obsolete, now a misspelling)
Etymology
From Middle English liklihode, equivalent to likely + -hood.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈlaɪklihʊd/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
likelihood (countable and uncountable, plural likelihoods)
- The probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state or degree of being probable.
- In all likelihood the meeting will be cancelled.
- The likelihood is that the inflation rate will continue to rise.
- 2017 May 16, Maurie Backman, “Here's how to become a millionaire on $56,000 a year”, in CNN Money:
- While starting early can increase your likelihood of attaining millionaire status, the investments you choose play an equally important role.
- (statistics, probability theory) The probability that some fixed outcome was generated by a random distribution with a specific parameter.
- Likeness, resemblance.
- 1614, Walter Ralegh , chapter 3, in The Historie of the World , London: William Stansby for Walter Burre, , →OCLC, 1st book:
- There is no likelihood between pure light and black darkness, or between righteousness and reprobation.
- (archaic) Appearance, show, sign, expression.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
probability
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mathematical likelihood
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resemblance
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