B2noun2K

Probability

UK /["/ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti/"]/US /["/ˌprɑːbəˈbɪləti/"]/

Definition

how likely something is to happen

In simple words: The chance of something happening.

Examples

The probability of rolling a six on a fair die is one-sixth.
Scientists calculate the probability of rain based on weather data.
There is a high probability that the team will win the championship.
She understood the probability of success was low, but she tried anyway.
In statistics, probability measures how likely an event is to occur.
The probability that a coin will land on heads is 50 percent.
Probability theory is fundamental to many fields, including economics and physics.

Usage notes

Used in mathematics and statistics. More formal in academic contexts. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing games or chances.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'probe' in 'probability' as probing the odds of an event.

Collocations

high
real
strong
degree
have
increase
decrease
probability for
probability of
in all probability
on a/the balance of probabilities

Synonyms

likelihood

Antonyms

certainty
impossibility

Common mistakes

Confused with 'possibility' — probability is about likelihood, while possibility is just about whether it can happen.
Used incorrectly in singular/plural forms — always use 'probability' even when talking about multiple scenarios.