possibility

American  

[pos-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌpɒs əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

• possibilities
  plural

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.

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possibility British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• possibilities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of possibility

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

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Explanation

If something could realistically happen, it's a possibility. So winning the lottery is a slight possibility, but becoming king of the world is not even a remote possibility. In one sense, a possibility is an option: "One possibility is that the UFO is just a shooting star." It can also mean more of a potential: "This house might look like an abandoned shack, but it's got so much possibility!" All meanings of possibility share the sense that something is able to happen, or is possible. The Latin root is possibilis, "that can be done."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

possibility possibilities

Asked how they felt about the possibility of electing a Latino governor, just over a third of all likely voters and 45% of Latino voters said they felt “proud.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Williams: It's still a theoretical result, but it opens up the possibility of much more efficient ways of computing in an enormous variety of scenarios.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

While the possibility to take all games is on the table in Scotland, it is by no means certain the option will be taken up.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Oil prices fell Thursday as traders assessed fresh U.S. efforts to revive peace negotiations with Iran against persistent Middle East supply risks and the possibility of renewed military escalation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

The possibility of some new clothes had woken Lady Constance up handily.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Rather, the native plant experts took issue with the possibilities squandered, small and large.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

She described the possibilities of AI crimping job growth and consumer spending, as well as pushback to projects around the country, as social risks that could eventually hurt investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Slate film critic Dana Stevens raves, “It’s a dazzling exploration of the possibilities of stop-motion technology, as well as a classic coming-of-age fairy tale.”

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2026

For buyers, the estate offers a combination of expansive living quarters, recreational possibilities, and a connection to one of boxing’s most recognizable figures.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

He spoke, too, of the possibilities for progress.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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Related Words

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

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