# likelihood

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlaɪklihʊd/ · frequency rank #8,167

## Definitions
1. The probability of a specified outcome; the chance of something happening; probability; the state or degree of being probable.
2. The probability that some fixed outcome was generated by a random distribution with a specific parameter.
3. Likeness, resemblance.
4. Appearance, show, sign, expression.

## Etymology
From Middle English liklihode, equivalent to likely + -hood.

## Easily confused with
- **livelihood** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likelihood-vs-livelihood)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ilkelihood`, `lieklihood`, `likeilhood`, `likelhiood`, `likelihhood`, `likelihod`, `likelihodo`, `likelihoodd`, `likeliohod`, `likellihood`, `likkelihood`, `likleihood`, `lkielihood`, `llikelihood`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/likelihood