Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Probability
Probˊa-bil′i-ty
,Noun.
pl.
Probabilities
(#)
. [L.
probabilitas
: cf. F. probabilité
.] 1.
The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood.
Probability
is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so. Locke.
2.
That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth.
The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of
probabilities
. Buckminster.
We do not call for evidence till antecedent
probabilities
fail. J. H. Newman.
3.
(Math.)
Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st , 5.
Chance
, Noun.
Syn. – Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance.
Webster 1828 Edition
Probability
PROBABIL'ITY
,Noun.
1.
Likelihood; appearance of truth; that state of a case or question of fact which results from superior evidence or preponderation of argument on one side, inclining the mind to receive it as the truth, but leaving some room for doubt. It therefore falls short of moral certainty, but produces what is called opinion.Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so.
Demonstration produces science or certain knowledge; proof produces belief, and probability opinion.
1.
Any thing that has the appearance of reality or truth. In this sense, the word admits of the plural number. The whole like of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities.
Definition 2024
probability
probability
English
Noun
probability (plural probabilities)
- the state of being probable; likelihood
- an event that is likely to occur
- the relative likelihood of an event happening
- (mathematics) a number, between 0 and 1, expressing the precise likelihood of an event happening
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Translations
state of being probable; likelihood
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event that is likely to occur
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relative likelihood of an event happening
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mathematical probability
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See also
External links
- probability in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- probability in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911