likelihood

American  

[lahyk-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪk liˌhʊd /

Or likeliness

noun

• likelihoods
  plural

1. the state of being likely or probable; probability.

2. a probability or chance of something.

   There is a strong likelihood of his being elected.

3. Archaic. indication of a favorable end; promise.

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likelihood British  

/ ˈlaɪklɪˌnɪs, ˈlaɪklɪˌhʊd /

noun

1. the condition of being likely or probable; probability

2. something that is probable

3. statistics the probability of a given sample being randomly drawn regarded as a function of the parameters of the population. The likelihood ratio is the ratio of this to the maximized likelihood See also maximum likelihood

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superlikelihood
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• likelihoods
  plural

Etymology

Origin of likelihood

First recorded in 1350–1400, likelihood is from the Middle English word liklihood. See likely, -hood

Explanation

The likelihood of something means the odds that it will happen, or how likely a particular outcome is. Your likelihood of winning the lottery is pretty slim. If you figured out the likelihood of winning the lottery before you bought a scratch ticket, you might end up spending your money on something else. Likelihood indicates probability or chance. The likelihood that you'll convince your stubborn dog to get in your car completely depends on how many dog treats you've got in your pocket.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

likelihood likelihoods

The hotter-than-average summer with an increased likelihood of heat spikes and heatwaves was predicted by the Met Office and MeteoGroup - the BBC's weather data providers - back in June.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

David Tamayo, head of Colombia's disaster relief agency, acknowledged that the "likelihood of finding survivors is going to diminish" after Thursday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

“The likelihood is that it was made in the 1930s because of the style of execution,” Gittelsohn said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Regular stair climbing was also associated with a lower likelihood of developing serious cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

In all likelihood, then, Alexandria took shape very quickly in the waning years of the fourth century and early years of the third.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Humanoids tasked with performing multiple jobs use artificial intelligence and are “probabilistic,” meaning they operate on statistical likelihoods, not certainty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

The danger arises when people believe that the model is retrieving truth rather than generating likelihoods.

From Salon ● May 12, 2026

Defense departments around the world are preparing for higher likelihoods of conflict.

From Barron's ● Feb. 28, 2026

Impact assessments for weather events such as heatwaves and storms range from "significant" to "moderate" with likelihoods of between 1% and 25%.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2023

Within a few years a bill was passed giving Home Rule to Ireland; and national parliaments at Dublin and at Cardiff are said to be among the likelihoods of the near future.

From The Crest-Wave of Evolution A Course of Lectures in History, Given to the Graduates' Class in the Raja-Yoga College, Point Loma, in the College-Year 1918-19 by Kenneth Morris

Related Words

• possibility
• probability
• prospect
• tendency
• trend