likelihood

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈlaɪklihʊd/ See IPA manual

Freq #17985

Meanings

1

noun
The chance or probability that something will happen.

In all likelihood, the meeting will be cancelled because of the storm.
2

noun
In statistics, a measure of how well a particular set of values explains observed data.

The model chooses the parameters that give the highest likelihood for the data.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the chance or probability... likeliness

More liability odds

Opposites

unlikelihood

Word family

Forms likelihoods

Derived forms dislikelihoodloglikelihoodpseudolikelihoodquasilikelihood

Etymology

From Middle English liklihode, equivalent to likely + -hood.

liklihode Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# likelihood

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlaɪklihʊd/
**Frequency rank:** 17985

## Meanings
1. The chance or probability that something will happen.
2. In statistics, a measure of how well a particular set of values explains observed data.

## Examples
- In all likelihood, the meeting will be cancelled because of the storm.
- The model chooses the parameters that give the highest likelihood for the data.

## Synonyms
- liability
- likeliness
- odds

## Antonyms
- unlikelihood

## Derived Forms
- dislikelihood
- loglikelihood
- pseudolikelihood
- quasilikelihood

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: liklihode

## Etymology
From Middle English liklihode, equivalent to likely + -hood.

## AI Etymology
Likelihood is from Middle English liklihode, equivalent to likely + -hood. In present-day use, it can mean the chance or probability that something will happen, or in statistics, a measure of how well a particular set of values explains observed data. Derived formations include dislikelihood, loglikelihood, pseudolikelihood, and quasilikelihood.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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