Probability
noun
The chance that a specific event will happen.
The probability of getting a six when you throw a die is one in six.
Often appears as...
- high probability
- low probability
noun
A field of math that deals with hot likely certain events are to happen.
In probability, we study the likelihood of an event's occurrence.
Often appears as...
- probability theory
- probability density function
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The relative frequency of occurrence of an event.
The empirical probability of an event is calculated from the observations.
Often appears as...
- empirical probability
- prior probability
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The chance that a specific event will happen.
The probability of getting a six when you throw a die is one in six.
Often appears as...
- high probability
- low probability
noun
A field of math that deals with hot likely certain events are to happen.
In probability, we study the likelihood of an event's occurrence.
Often appears as...
- probability theory
- probability density function
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
The relative frequency of occurrence of an event.
The empirical probability of an event is calculated from the observations.
Often appears as...
- empirical probability
- prior probability
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Use
Used in casual conversations about events that may or may not occur.
There's a high probability we'll see rain tomorrow.
Pro Tip 2/3Quantifiable
Probability can express a quantified chance, often as a fraction or percentage.
There's a 50% probability of choosing the correct answer by guessing.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Certainty
Indicates uncertainty, that something might happen, but it's not guaranteed.
Even though there's a high probability, it's not certain you'll win the lottery.
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Use
Used in casual conversations about events that may or may not occur.
There's a high probability we'll see rain tomorrow.
Pro Tip 2/3Quantifiable
Probability can express a quantified chance, often as a fraction or percentage.
There's a 50% probability of choosing the correct answer by guessing.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Certainty
Indicates uncertainty, that something might happen, but it's not guaranteed.
Even though there's a high probability, it's not certain you'll win the lottery.
Pro Tip 1/3Everyday Use
Used in casual conversations about events that may or may not occur.
There's a high probability we'll see rain tomorrow.
Pro Tip 2/3Quantifiable
Probability can express a quantified chance, often as a fraction or percentage.
There's a 50% probability of choosing the correct answer by guessing.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Certainty
Indicates uncertainty, that something might happen, but it's not guaranteed.
Even though there's a high probability, it's not certain you'll win the lottery.
Never forget "Probability"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How Mendel's pea plants...
These days scientists know how you inherit characteristics from your parents. They're able to calculate probabilities of having a specific trait or getting a genetic disease according to the information from the parents and the family history. But how is this possible? To understand how traits pass from one living being to its descendants,
Video examples
Miracle, Luck or Chance?...
miraculous well no as you said before it's just a random set of cards what if it was first six digits of your social security number what if it were the last six digits of your social security number the first six digits of your phone number sometimes it's not actually miraculous sometimes it's just probability playing its tricks on you
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
higher probability of those cells mutating and becoming cancerous and that's why we associate cancer with older age today but in the past we're finding that a high number of middle-aged adults for developing cancer and this raises some interesting questions to answer questions like these
Video examples
What is the Heisenberg...
We can clearly identify features of the wave pattern as a whole, most importantly, its wavelength, which is the distance between two neighboring peaks, or two neighboring valleys. But we can't assign it a single position. It has a good probability of being in lots of different places.
Video examples
What happens when our...
So the question is, how far are we from being able to match those tricks? A couple of years ago, we did a survey of some of the world's leading A.I. experts, to see what they think, and one of the questions we asked was, "By which year do you think there is a 50 percent probability
Video examples
What is obesity? - Mia...
Recent studies have also found a link between obesity and variations in the bacteria species that live in our digestive systems. No matter the cause, obesity is an escalating global epidemic. It substantially raises the probability of diseases, like diabetes, heart disease,
Video examples
The last banana: A...
the frequency of a specific outcome, like a player two win, will approach its theoretical probability, that value we got by writing down all the possibilities and counting up the ones for each outcome. So, if you sat on that desert island playing dice forever,
Video examples
Why do blood types...
Because of these interactions, knowing both parents' blood types lets us predict the relative probability of their children's blood types. Why do blood types matter? For blood transfusions, finding the correct one is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the frog...
The point is that information affects probability. And conditional probability isn't just the stuff of abstract mathematical games. It pops up in the real world, as well. Computers and other devices use conditional probability
Video examples
The Tipping Point PIPE...
there was quite a backlash from mainstream climate science to be talking about these high impact events possibly because many people assume they were be of low probability but there's a lot more interest in them now
Video examples
How Mendel's pea plants...
These days scientists know how you inherit characteristics from your parents. They're able to calculate probabilities of having a specific trait or getting a genetic disease according to the information from the parents and the family history. But how is this possible? To understand how traits pass from one living being to its descendants,
Video examples
Miracle, Luck or Chance?...
miraculous well no as you said before it's just a random set of cards what if it was first six digits of your social security number what if it were the last six digits of your social security number the first six digits of your phone number sometimes it's not actually miraculous sometimes it's just probability playing its tricks on you
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
higher probability of those cells mutating and becoming cancerous and that's why we associate cancer with older age today but in the past we're finding that a high number of middle-aged adults for developing cancer and this raises some interesting questions to answer questions like these
Video examples
What is the Heisenberg...
We can clearly identify features of the wave pattern as a whole, most importantly, its wavelength, which is the distance between two neighboring peaks, or two neighboring valleys. But we can't assign it a single position. It has a good probability of being in lots of different places.
Video examples
What happens when our...
So the question is, how far are we from being able to match those tricks? A couple of years ago, we did a survey of some of the world's leading A.I. experts, to see what they think, and one of the questions we asked was, "By which year do you think there is a 50 percent probability
Video examples
What is obesity? - Mia...
Recent studies have also found a link between obesity and variations in the bacteria species that live in our digestive systems. No matter the cause, obesity is an escalating global epidemic. It substantially raises the probability of diseases, like diabetes, heart disease,
Video examples
The last banana: A...
the frequency of a specific outcome, like a player two win, will approach its theoretical probability, that value we got by writing down all the possibilities and counting up the ones for each outcome. So, if you sat on that desert island playing dice forever,
Video examples
Why do blood types...
Because of these interactions, knowing both parents' blood types lets us predict the relative probability of their children's blood types. Why do blood types matter? For blood transfusions, finding the correct one is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the frog...
The point is that information affects probability. And conditional probability isn't just the stuff of abstract mathematical games. It pops up in the real world, as well. Computers and other devices use conditional probability
Video examples
The Tipping Point PIPE...
there was quite a backlash from mainstream climate science to be talking about these high impact events possibly because many people assume they were be of low probability but there's a lot more interest in them now
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
It would be so weird if we knew just as much as we needed to know to answer all the questions of the universe. Wouldn't that be freaky? Whereas the probability is high that there is a vast reality that we have no way to perceive, that's actually bearing down on us now and influencing everything.
Quote examples
John Hull
Mathematician
One important measurement issue concerns the fat tails problem that I mentioned earlier. VAR is concerned with extreme outcomes. If the tails of the probability distributions we are using are too thin, our VAR measures are likely to be too low.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
We think that life develops spontaneously on Earth, so it must be possible for life to develop on suitable planets elsewhere in the universe. But we don't know the probability that a planet develops life.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
Quote examples
Paul DePodesta
American Businessman
The nice thing about baseball is that all of the possible outcomes are known - it's not quite as messy as the real world. That makes the game an excellent playground for probability.
Quote examples
Laura Ingraham
American Celebrity
Hope is not the basis for policy. Wise policymakers analyze major issues such as immigration carefully and look at facts and probabilities instead of just hoping for the best.
Quote examples
Robert J. Shiller
American Economist
We don't know the probabilities of future events. Still, you have to take action, and so you do it on gut feeling. That's the world we live in.
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
I'm trying to construct a world that maximises the probability that SpaceX continues its mission without me.
Quote examples
Joseph Butler
English Clergyman
But to us, probability is the very guide of life.
Quote examples
Walter Bagehot
English Author
Life is a school of probability.
Quote examples
George Saunders
American Writer
It would be so weird if we knew just as much as we needed to know to answer all the questions of the universe. Wouldn't that be freaky? Whereas the probability is high that there is a vast reality that we have no way to perceive, that's actually bearing down on us now and influencing everything.
Quote examples
John Hull
Mathematician
One important measurement issue concerns the fat tails problem that I mentioned earlier. VAR is concerned with extreme outcomes. If the tails of the probability distributions we are using are too thin, our VAR measures are likely to be too low.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
We think that life develops spontaneously on Earth, so it must be possible for life to develop on suitable planets elsewhere in the universe. But we don't know the probability that a planet develops life.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
They were being driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all probability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
Quote examples
Paul DePodesta
American Businessman
The nice thing about baseball is that all of the possible outcomes are known - it's not quite as messy as the real world. That makes the game an excellent playground for probability.
Quote examples
Laura Ingraham
American Celebrity
Hope is not the basis for policy. Wise policymakers analyze major issues such as immigration carefully and look at facts and probabilities instead of just hoping for the best.
Quote examples
Robert J. Shiller
American Economist
We don't know the probabilities of future events. Still, you have to take action, and so you do it on gut feeling. That's the world we live in.
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
I'm trying to construct a world that maximises the probability that SpaceX continues its mission without me.
Quote examples
Joseph Butler
English Clergyman
But to us, probability is the very guide of life.
Quote examples
Walter Bagehot
English Author
Life is a school of probability.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension