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Odds vs Likelihood - What's the difference?

odds | likelihood | Synonyms |

Likelihood is a synonym of odds.



As nouns the difference between odds and likelihood

is that odds is the ratio of the probabilities of an event happening to that of it not happening while likelihood is the probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state of being probable.

odds

English

(wikipedia odds)

Noun

(en-plural noun)
  • The ratio of the probabilities of an event happening to that of it not happening.
    • I'd say the odds are strongly in favor of the sun rising tomorrow morning.
  • The ratio of winnings to stake in betting situations.

    • Usage notes

    * The word "odds" was formerly sometimes used with a singular verb, e.g. (Stephen S. Foster) "If there be any difference in the two crimes, the odds is in favor of the foreign enslaver."

    Derived terms

    * at all odds / by all odds / against all odds * at odds * implied odds * lay odds * long odds / short odds * odds and ends * odds on / odds against * odds-on * pot odds * take odds

    See also

    * even money * evens

    Anagrams

    * ---- ==Norwegian Bokmål==

    Noun

  • (l)

    • References

    * ----

    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