probability theory

noun

Mathematics, Statistics.

1. the theory of analyzing and making statements concerning the probability of the occurrence of uncertain events.

Word History and Origins

Origin of probability theory¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

“Talagrand is an exceptionally prolific mathematician whose work has transformed probability theory, functional analysis and statistics,” the academy said in its award citation.

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“Anthropologists, sociologists, historians and psychologists, as well as those working on probability theory and physics, took him to have important insights for their disciplines.”

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This direction of developing probability theory for more complicated structures than numbers is an example.

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When Pascal combined probability theory with zero and with infinity, he found God.

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He helped lay the foundations of calculus and probability theory.

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