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Expectancy vs Likelihood - What's the difference?

expectancy | likelihood | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between expectancy and likelihood

is that expectancy is expectation or anticipation; the state of expecting something while likelihood is the probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state of being probable.

expectancy

English

Noun

(expectancies)
  • expectation or anticipation; the state of expecting something
    • (Milton)
  • the state of being expected
  • something expected or awaited
  • * Shakespeare
    • The expectancy and rose of the fair state.

    Synonyms

    * expectingness

    Derived terms

    * life expectancy

    likelihood

    English

    Noun

    (Likelihood function)
  • The probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state of being probable.
    • In all likelihood the meeting will be cancelled.
    The likelihood is that the inflation rate will continue to rise.
  • (statistics) The probability that some fixed outcome was generated by a random distribution with a specific parameter.
  • Likeness, resemblance.
    • "There is no likelihood between pure light and black darkness, or between righteousness and reprobation." (Sir W. Raleigh)
  • (archaic) Appearance, show, sign, expression.
    • "What of his heart perceive you in his face by any likelihood he showed to-day ?" (Shak)

    Synonyms

    * likeliness * odds

    Antonyms

    * unlikelihood