Unlikelihood: meaning, definitions and examples
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unlikelihood
[ ˌənˈlaɪklihʊd ]
in probability
The state or quality of being unlikely; improbability.
Synonyms
improbability, rarity, unlikeliness.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
unlikelihood |
Included twice by mistake above. Refer to the first definition. |
improbability |
Often used in discussions about statistical chances or when emphasizing how unlikely something is to happen.
|
unlikeliness |
This word is also used to express that something is not likely to happen, often in more casual or informal contexts compared to 'unlikelihood'.
|
rarity |
Used to describe something that is uncommon or rare, often implying a special or valuable quality.
|
Examples of usage
- The unlikelihood of winning the lottery did not deter her from buying a ticket.
- Due to the unlikelihood of success, he decided not to pursue that business venture.
general
The quality of being improbable; unlikeliness.
Synonyms
doubtfulness, improbability, unlikeliness.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
unlikelihood |
Use this word when referring specifically to the chance that something won't happen. It is more neutral and formal and often used in technical or analytical contexts.
|
improbability |
Improbability is used to indicate that something is very unlikely to happen. This word is often used in discussions involving statistical or logical analysis.
|
unlikeliness |
Similar to 'unlikelihood', unlikeliness is slightly less formal and often used in everyday conversation to discuss the low chance of something happening.
|
doubtfulness |
This word has a slightly more negative connotation and suggests uncertainty or skepticism about a situation or fact.
|
Examples of usage
- The unlikelihood of the two events occurring simultaneously was incredibly low.
- Despite the unlikelihood of his story, she couldn't help but believe him.
Translations
Translations of the word "unlikelihood" in other languages:
🇵🇹 improbabilidade
🇮🇳 असंभावना
🇩🇪 Unwahrscheinlichkeit
🇮🇩 ketidakmungkinan
🇺🇦 малоймовірність
🇵🇱 nieprawdopodobieństwo
🇯🇵 あり得ないこと
🇫🇷 improbabilité
🇪🇸 improbabilidad
🇹🇷 olasılıksızlık
🇰🇷 있을 법하지 않음
🇸🇦 عدم الاحتمال
🇨🇿 nepravděpodobnost
🇸🇰 nepravdepodobnosť
🇨🇳 不大可能
🇸🇮 neverjetnost
🇮🇸 ólíkleg
🇰🇿 ықтималдығы аз
🇬🇪 არასადაცობითობა
🇦🇿 ehtimallı olmamaq
🇲🇽 improbabilidad
Etymology
The word unlikelihood is derived from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'likelihood' which comes from Middle English 'liklihede'. Liklihede itself is a combination of 'likly' meaning 'likely' and the suffix '-hede' used to form abstract nouns. The concept of improbability has been a subject of interest in various fields including statistics, probability theory, and everyday decision making.
See also: likelihoods, unlikely.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #34,725 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
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- ...