stochastic

American  

[stuh-kas-tik] / stəˈkæs tɪk /

adjective

Statistics.

1. of or relating to a process involving a randomly determined sequence of observations each of which is considered as a sample of one element from a probability distribution.

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stochastic British  

/ stɒˈkæstɪk /

adjective

1. statistics

   1. (of a random variable) having a probability distribution, usually with finite variance

   2. (of a process) involving a random variable the successive values of which are not independent

   3. (of a matrix) square with non-negative elements that add to unity in each row

2. rare involving conjecture

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stochastic Scientific  

/ stō-kăs′tĭk /

1. Involving or containing a random variable or variables.

2. Involving chance or probability.

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Other Word Forms

• stochastically adverb

Etymology

Origin of stochastic

1655–65; < Greek stochastikós, equivalent to stochas- (variant stem of stocházesthai to aim at) + -tikos -tic

Example Sentences

“Each population is small and highly susceptible to stochastic events, especially wildfire,” notes a five-year status review for the frogs released last month by the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, quantities are calculated using random or stochastic processes.

From Science Daily

Computers, he says, are a system out of equilibrium, and stochastic thermodynamics gives physicists a way to study nonequilibrium systems.

From Science Daily

Meyer and Schumacher demonstrate that the increase in stochastic variations also in the gene activity can be used as an aging clock.

From Science Daily

To bridge this gap, TopicVelo puts aside deterministic models, embracing -- and gleaning insights from -- a far more difficult stochastic model that reflects biology's inescapable randomness.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• debatable
• imaginary
• problematic
• speculative
• theoretical
• vague