possibility

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌpɑ.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/ UK /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ See IPA manual

Freq #2857

Meanings

1

noun
The chance that something may happen or be true.

There is a possibility that the meeting will be cancelled.
2

noun
Something that may happen or be chosen; an option.

Declaring bankruptcy is always a possibility.
3

noun
A future chance or potential.

This job opens up exciting possibilities for my career.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the chance that something... possibleness

2 noun · something that may happen... opening alternative option

More chance contingency contingent eventuality potentiality

Opposites

impossibility

Word family

Forms possibilities

Derived forms nonpossibilityunpossibility

Related forms impossibility possible potence potency potent potentate potential potentiality power probability

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

possibility of error
the chance that a judgment or result may be mistaken

Fixed expression

Etymology

From Middle English possibilite, from Middle French possibilité (from Old French possibilite) and directly from Late Latin possibilitās (“possibility”), from Latin possibilis (“possible”); see possible. By surface analysis, possible + -ity.

possibilite Middle English possibilité Middle French possibilitās la-lat possibilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# possibility

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɑ.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
**Frequency rank:** 2857

## Meanings
1. The chance that something may happen or be true.
2. Something that may happen or be chosen; an option.
3. A future chance or potential.

## Examples
- There is a possibility that the meeting will be cancelled.
- Declaring bankruptcy is always a possibility.
- This job opens up exciting possibilities for my career.

## Synonyms
- chance
- contingency
- contingent
- eventuality
- potentiality

## Antonyms
- impossibility

## Derived Forms
- nonpossibility
- unpossibility

## Related Forms
- impossibility
- possible
- potence
- potency
- potent
- potentate
- potential
- potentiality
- power
- probability

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: possibilite
- Root: possibilité
- Root: possibilitās
- Root: possibilis

## Etymology
From Middle English possibilite, from Middle French possibilité (from Old French possibilite) and directly from Late Latin possibilitās (“possibility”), from Latin possibilis (“possible”); see possible. By surface analysis, possible + -ity.

## AI Etymology
Possibility comes from Middle English possibilite, from Middle French possibilité (from Old French possibilite) and directly from Late Latin possibilitās (“possibility”), from Latin possibilis (“possible”); see possible. By surface analysis, possible + -ity. In present-day English it covers the chance that something may happen or be true, something that may happen or be chosen; an option, and a future chance or potential. The wider family includes derived forms such as nonpossibility, unpossibility and related forms such as impossibility, possible, potence, potency.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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