Probability — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ prob·a·bil·i·ty

Meaning & Definition of Probability

Probability (noun)

  1. the chance that a given event will occur
  2. the ratio of the number of outcomes in an exhaustive set of equally likely outcomes that produce a given event to the total number of possible outcomes
  3. a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of probabilities

Probability (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or state of being likely to occur

    "the plot of the movie thriller was exciting and surprising but woefully lacking in probability"

    similar: liability, likelihood
    related: credibility, plausibility, plausibleness, feasibility, feasibleness, possibility, potentiality, reasonability, reasonableness, viability
    opposite: improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness
    near: doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability, impracticality, implausibility, incredibility, incredibleness

  2. a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another

    "the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads 50 times in a row is not good"

    similar: chance, odds, percentage
    related: outlook, prospect, contingency, possibility, potential, potentiality, conditional probability

Related Entry: Conditional probability (noun)

Conditional probability is a different word from Probability. The synonyms below are for conditional probability, not for probability.

  1. as in chance, possibility

    similar: chance, odds, percentage, probability, contingency, possibility, potential, potentiality, outlook, prospect

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Probability

The most common words with a similar meaning to Probability:

liability, likelihood, chance, odds, percentage

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Probability

Words with the opposite meaning of Probability:

improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness

Related Words for Probability

credibility, plausibility, plausibleness, feasibility, feasibleness, possibility, potentiality, reasonability, reasonableness, viability, outlook, prospect, contingency, potential, conditional probability

Near Antonyms of Probability

doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability, impracticality, implausibility, incredibility, incredibleness

Word Forms of Probability

Inflections: probabilities

Origin & Etymology of Probability

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Probability

Words & Phrases Containing Probability

probability density, probability density function, probability distribution, probability function, conditional probability, in all probability

Frequently Asked Questions about Probability

What does "Probability" mean?

"Probability" means the chance that a given event will occur. As a noun, it is defined as: the chance that a given event will occur. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Probability"?

Other words for "Probability" include liability, likelihood, chance, odds and percentage. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Probability" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Probability"?

There are 20 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Probability". Common alternatives include liability, likelihood, chance, odds and percentage.

What is the opposite of "Probability"?

Antonyms of "Probability" include improbability, unlikelihood and unlikeliness. Near antonyms include doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability and impracticality.

How do you use "Probability" in a sentence?

Examples of "Probability" in a sentence: "the plot of the movie thriller was exciting and surprising but woefully lacking in probability"; "the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads 50 times in a row is not good".

Is "Probability" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Probability" is a noun.

Is "Probability" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Probability" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Probability"?

"Probability" is pronounced /ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ and divided into syllables as prob·a·bil·i·ty.