Reading Theme:
Probability: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：likelihood (probability)
probability
/probəˈbɪlɪti/
n.
How likely something is to happen. It's more of a general feeling or common sense guess.
likelihood
➕
/ˈlaɪklihʊd/
n.
The general quality of being likely to occur, often based on observation or common sense rather than precise calculation.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'probabilis' (provable, likely), from 'probare' (to test, prove) + '-bility' (quality of).
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'Probable ability' – it's about the *ability* for something *probable* (likely) to happen.
📖 Example
According to the weather forecast, the probability of a sunny picnic tomorrow is very high.
The forecast indicates a strong likelihood that our picnic will have sunny weather tomorrow.
🔗 Collocations
high probability – a very strong chance of something happening
low probability – a very small chance of something happening
probability of success – the chance that an endeavor will be successful
🔄 Synonyms
likelihood (n.) – The chance that something will happen.
chance (n.) – The possibility of something happening, often expressed qualitatively.
prospect (n.) – The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.
🚫 Antonyms
improbability (n.) – The quality of being unlikely to happen.
certainty (n.) – Something that is definite and sure to happen.
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Originates from Latin 'probabilitas', meaning credibility or plausibility. In the 17th century, mathematicians like Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat formalized it as a mathematical concept to analyze games of chance, laying the foundation for modern statistics and probability theory.
Meaning 2：calculated chance (probability)
probability
/probəˈbɪlɪti/
n.
The exact number or percentage chance of something happening, calculated in math or statistics.
calculated chance
➕
/ˈkælkjʊleɪtɪd tʃɑːns/
n.
A numerical measure, expressed as a ratio, fraction, or percentage, representing the exact likelihood of a specific event occurring, derived from mathematical or statistical analysis.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The game developers used complex math to balance the probability of finding rare items.
To ensure fairness, the game designers applied advanced mathematics to adjust the exact calculated chance of discovering rare items.
🔗 Collocations
probability theory – the branch of mathematics concerned with probability
probability distribution – a mathematical function describing the likelihood of different outcomes
calculate the probability – to determine the numerical chance of an event mathematically
🔄 Synonyms
odds (n. (pl.)) – The ratio of the probability of an event happening to that of it not happening.
statistical chance (n.) – The likelihood of an event derived from statistical analysis.
🚫 Antonyms
impossibility (n.) – Something that cannot happen or be done; a probability of zero.
🌱 Derivatives
probabilistic (adj.) – Based on or involving the theory of probability.
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser