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  

/ 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 figure for the 21-country euro area was up sharply from 3.2 percent in August and remains well above the European Central Bank's two-percent target, raising the likelihood of another interest rate increase.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

“Given the overall softness of the labour market, the likelihood of two Fed hikes is going lower,” he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Another prediction market, Kalshi, was giving a similar likelihood on Wednesday of 62%.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

It isn’t unusual for memory stocks to trade at low multiples at the top of a cycle as investors weigh growing profits against the likelihood of an imminent downturn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Collision with a floating mine might ex­plain explosion, but seems fanciful, besides highly unlikely as sinking started at stem, which in all likelihood would mean that hull breach was at stem too.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

We do not ascribe likelihoods to either scenario.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 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

In the end, Mr. Murray approaches the whole question less as a person of faith than as a social scientist, weighing likelihoods and limiting his conclusions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

Nothing more was necessary, not only to confirm all his mother had said, but to rouse the imagination concerning the likelihoods and probabilities a man with such passionate eyes could summon.

From All the Days of My Life: An Autobiography The Red Leaves of a Human Heart by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

Related Words

• possibility
• probability
• prospect
• tendency
• trend