Likelihood Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Statistics

• In statistics, likelihood refers to how probable a particular outcome is based on given data.
• It is often measured in probabilities ranging from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).
• The concept plays a crucial role in Bayesian inference, where prior beliefs are updated with new evidence.

Everyday Usage

• People often use 'likelihood' in decision-making to express their confidence in different outcomes.
• 'In all likelihood' is a common phrase indicating something is very probable.
• The word encourages critical thinking, as it requires evaluating information before making a statement.

Psychology

• Cognitive biases can affect how individuals perceive likelihood, leading them to misjudge risks or outcomes.
• The availability heuristic is when people think something is more likely if they can easily remember examples of it.
• Understanding likelihood helps in assessing fears or anxieties, allowing one to differentiate between what is probable and what is unlikely.

Pop Culture

• Songs and movies often feature the concept of likelihood in plots revolving around chance and fate.
• Popular phrases like 'the odds are in your favor' relate to the idea of likelihood in everyday life.
• In literature, authors explore themes of fate versus free will by delving into the likelihood of events occurring.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Old English 'lic ' meaning 'like' and 'hood', a suffix meaning 'state of'.
• In the 14th century, the term started to be used in English to express probability or chance.
• Related words like 'likely' can be traced back to the same roots, sharing the idea of similarity.

The word 'likelihood' originated in the late 16th century from the combination of 'likely' and 'hood'. It has been used to describe the probability or chance of something happening, both in statistical contexts and everyday language.

See also: alike, alikeness, dislike, disliked, likable, like, likely, liken, likeness, likewise, liking, unlike, unlikeliness.

With rank #4,925, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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