likelihood

American  

[lahyk-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪk liˌhʊd /

Or likeliness

noun

1. the state of being likely or probable; probability.

2. a probability or chance of something.

   There is a strong likelihood of his being elected.

3. Archaic. indication of a favorable end; promise.

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likelihood British  

/ ˈlaɪklɪˌnɪs, ˈlaɪklɪˌhʊd /

noun

1. the condition of being likely or probable; probability

2. something that is probable

3. statistics the probability of a given sample being randomly drawn regarded as a function of the parameters of the population. The likelihood ratio is the ratio of this to the maximized likelihood See also maximum likelihood

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Other Word Forms

• superlikelihood noun

Etymology

Origin of likelihood

First recorded in 1350–1400, likelihood is from the Middle English word liklihood. See likely, -hood

Example Sentences

If workers get the green light for a couple of extra days working from home, in all likelihood it would be coming from their immediate managers instead of the company’s top leaders.

From MarketWatch

Scientists found that consuming caffeine at night can increase impulsive behavior, raising the likelihood of risky or uncontrolled actions.

From Science Daily

Oil prices dropped sharply Wednesday after a volatile day of trading as investors assessed the likelihood of war ending and of tanker traffic resuming through a contested waterway.

From MarketWatch

Beijing will have hoped that better diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran would reduce the likelihood for regional tensions.

From BBC

"It's a stepping stone to Mars, where we might have the most likelihood of finding evidence of past life, but it's also a Rosetta Stone for how other solar systems form."

From Barron's

Related Words

• possibility
• probability
• prospect
• tendency
• trend