LIKELIHOOD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does likelihood mean? 

• LIKELIHOOD (noun)
  The noun LIKELIHOOD has 1 sense:

1. the probability of a specified outcome

  Familiarity information: LIKELIHOOD used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIKELIHOOD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The probability of a specified outcome

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

likelihood; likeliness

Hypernyms ("likelihood" is a kind of...):

probability (the quality of being probable; a probable event or the most probable event)

Attribute:

likely (has a good chance of being the case or of coming about)

unlikely (has little chance of being the case or coming about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "likelihood"):

odds (the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring)

Antonym:

unlikelihood (the improbability of a specified outcome)

 Context examples 

Population groups with an increased likelihood of a disease or other health issue, eg smoking, drug use, teen pregnancy.

(At-Risk Population, NCI Thesaurus)

It looks at the activity of 70 genes and is useful in assessing the likelihood of metastasis and recurrence.

(MammaPrint, NCI Thesaurus)

Dr Varun Warrier, who led the study, said: While we have found an association between a genetic likelihood for autism and adverse life events, we cannot conclude the former causes the latter.

(Genetic variants for autism linked to higher rates of self-harm and childhood maltreatment, University of Cambridge)

The research also demonstrated that co-exposure to CBs and alcohol increased the likelihood of birth defects involving the face and brain.

(Using both marijuana and alcohol during early pregnancy may increase the likelihood of disrupting fetal development, National Institutes of Health)

Methods for determining whether a change has taken place, when it has taken place, the confidence level indicating the likelihood that a change occurred, and the confidence interval indicating when the change occurred.

(Change-Point Analysis, NCI Thesaurus)

There's an even greater likelihood of developing "masked hypertension," a condition that often goes undetected during routine doctor's visits, researchers found.

(High Blood Pressure Liked to Long Hours on Job, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The likelihood an individual will develop ischemia is small.

(Low Ischemic Risk, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

The likelihood an individual will develop coronary artery disease is almost certain or greater than 90%.

(High Coronary Artery Disease Risk, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

With genetic testing, doctors can determine the likelihood of a woman's cancer returning.

(Study Shows Chemotherapy Not Needed To Treat Many Breast Cancers, Carol Pearson/VOA)

The likelihood an individual will develop ischemia is moderate.

(Intermediate Ischemic Risk, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)