likelihood
Americannoun
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the state of being likely or probable; probability.
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a probability or chance of something.
There is a strong likelihood of his being elected.
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Archaic. indication of a favorable end; promise.
noun
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the condition of being likely or probable; probability
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something that is probable
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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
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing likelihood
Statistics and Probability - Middle School
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Because of Mr. Terupt
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Jacob Have I Loved
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The lower-than-expected headline rate and the sharp drop in core inflation reduce the likelihood of a rise in the key interest rate at the central bank’s June meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
“The likelihood that someone would go through that entire process all the way up to yearlong conservatorship, it’s low,” Tsai said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Combined with faster deoxygenation rates, these conditions increase the likelihood of hypoxia events, when oxygen becomes too scarce to support many forms of aquatic life.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2026
A 2022 study gave participants contact-tracing devices to estimate how many close contacts they had each day while on a cruise—basically, evaluating the likelihood of an infectious disease’s spread.
From Slate • May 16, 2026
Dorothy, like most Americans, had never flown on a plane, and in all likelihood, before landing at Langley, she had never given the question more than a passing consideration.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
