possibility

[pos-uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

plural

possibilities 

1. the state or fact of being possible.

   the possibility of error.

   Synonyms: odds, likelihood, prospect, chance

2. something possible.

   He had exhausted every possibility but one.

possibility

/ ˌpɒsɪˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being possible

2. anything that is possible

3. a competitor, candidate, etc, who has a moderately good chance of winning, being chosen, etc

4. (often plural) a future prospect or potential

   my new house has great possibilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of possibility¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English possibilite, from Late Latin possibilitās, from Latin possibil(is) possible + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Now the nation can look forward to the possibility of taking on their former colonial rulers, boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, in North and Central America next year.

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Some bankers advised clients to refinance rather than waiting for interest rates to drop further, warning of the possibility for geopolitical or other macroeconomic factors to emerge in the next year or two.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is a small but growing possibility that the U.K. economy is heading for recession, thanks in part to overly high borrowing costs, a Bank of England rate-setter said Tuesday.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some bankers advised clients to refinance now rather than waiting for interest rates to drop further, warning of the possibility for geopolitical or other macroeconomic factors to emerge in the next year or two.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It’s going to get worse,” Michael Leeds, professor of economics at Temple University, told MarketWatch about the possibility of more college-football coaching firings and subsequent buyouts this season.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• action 
• circumstance 
• hazard 
• hope 
• incident 
• opportunity 
• probability 
• prospect 
• risk