PROBABILITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does probability mean? 

• PROBABILITY (noun)
  The noun PROBABILITY has 2 senses:

1. a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

2. the quality of being probable; a probable event or the most probable event

  Familiarity information: PROBABILITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROBABILITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

chance; probability

Context example:

if that phone call is for me, chances are it's my wife

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

amount; measure; quantity (how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify)

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

conditional probability; contingent probability (the probability that an event will occur given that one or more other events have occurred)

cross section ((physics) the probability that a particular interaction (as capture or ionization) will take place between particles; measured in barns)

exceedance ((geology) the probability that an earthquake will generate a level of ground motion that exceeds a specified reference level during a given exposure time)

fair chance; sporting chance (a reasonable probability of success)

fat chance; slim chance (little or no chance of success)

joint probability (the probability of two events occurring together)

risk; risk of exposure (the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent)

risk; risk of infection (the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred)

Derivation:

probabilistic (of or relating to or based on probability)

probable (likely but not certain to be or become true or real)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being probable; a probable event or the most probable event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

going by past experience there was a high probability that the visitors were lost

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

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

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

likelihood; likeliness (the probability of a specified outcome)

Antonym:

improbability (the quality of being improbable)

Derivation:

probabilistic (of or relating to or based on probability)

probable (apparently destined)

 Context examples 

He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A two-parameter family of continuous probability distributions, with a scale parameter theta and a shape parameter k.

(Gamma Distribution, NCI Thesaurus)

A family of continuous probability distribution functions, whose shape is determined by its rate parameter.

(Exponential Distribution, NCI Thesaurus)

A family of continuous probability distributions defined by the parameters of mean and variance.

(Gaussian Distribution, NCI Thesaurus)

It can be used to compute BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carrier probabilities and age specific risks for breast and ovarian cancer.

(Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm, NCI Thesaurus)

Each state has a probability distribution over the possible output tokens.

(Hidden Markov Model, NCI Thesaurus)

I was about again to revert to the probability of a union between Mr. Rochester and the beautiful Blanche; but Adele came in, and the conversation was turned into another channel.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Elinor was quite of her opinion, as to the probability of their not waiting for any thing more.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A specific identifiable level (defined qualitatively or quantitatively) of probability of adverse event being caused or associated with the product or procedure administration to a patient.

(Adverse Event Attribution to Product or Procedure, NCI Thesaurus)

Your being so far unlike, Fanny, does not in the smallest degree make against the probability of your happiness together: do not imagine it.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)