Cool MateLikelihood vs Probability
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Likelihood
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Probability
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
| Likelihood | Probability | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌprɑːbəˈbɪləti/"]/ |
| Meaning | The chance that something will happen. | The chance of something happening. |
| Example | There is very little likelihood of that happening. | The probability of rolling a six on a fair die is one-sixth. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | every, greater, increased, decrease, diminish, lessen, grow, diminish, likelihood for, likelihood of, in all likelihood | high, real, strong, degree, have, increase, decrease, probability for, probability of, in all probability, on a/the balance of probabilities |
| Antonyms | unlikelihood, improbability | certainty, impossibility |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'likelihood' with 'likely'., Using 'likelihood' as a countable noun instead of uncountable., Mixing up the preposition, saying 'likelihood for' instead of 'likelihood of'. | 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. |
| Usage notes | Use 'likelihood' in discussions of probability. It's neutral, suitable for academic and everyday contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations. | Used in mathematics and statistics. More formal in academic contexts. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing games or chances. |
Frequently asked questions: Likelihood vs Probability
What's the difference between Likelihood and Probability?
Likelihood: The chance that something will happen. Probability: The chance of something happening.
Are Likelihood and Probability the same CEFR level?
Likelihood: C1, Probability: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Likelihood and Probability interchangeably?
Not always. Likelihood and Probability are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.