conditional probability

noun

Definition of conditional probabilitynext
as in percentage

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conditional probability His lasting contribution came posthumously, in a Royal Society paper on conditional probability. — Siddhartha Mukherjee, New Yorker, 16 June 2025 Fraud Detection As mentioned earlier, conditional probability allows firms to update risk assessments in real-time. — Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Thus was born, in these villages, the idea of conditional probabilities and, with it, the practice of conditional love. — Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024 The prosecutor’s fallacy emerges constantly in problems of conditional probability, leading us sirenlike towards precisely the wrong conclusions—and undetected, sends innocent people to jail. — David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 8 Dec. 2023 The Goldman team sees a 30% probability of entering a recession over the next year, up from 15% previously, and a 25% conditional probability of entering a recession in the second year if one is avoided in the first. — Enda Curran, Fortune, 21 June 2022 Each term in the Drake equation sets the conditional probability of the term that comes after. — Corey S. Powell, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2021 To calculate the probability of the outcome resulting from any particular branch (a conditional probability), the probabilities of the sequence of events are multiplied. — New York Times, 13 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conditional probability
  1. percentage
  2. probability
  3. potential
  4. possibility
Noun
  • As a result, the share of pre-K students has accounted for a larger percentage of total district enrollment in recent years.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
  • Rodrigo’s fest is slated to arrive during a summer that includes female-dominant lineups at festivals like All Things Go, Newport Folk Festival, and Lollapalooza (which boasts a high percentage of woman headliners, if not equity across the board).
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026
Definition of percentage
Noun
  • Officials say the probability that it will be extended is between 30% and 60%.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While Chicago’s postseason probabilities are high, its chances of overtaking Milwaukee in the National League Central are low, meaning the Cubs are unlikely to receive a first-round bye.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of probability
Noun
  • Covid-19 wasn’t immediately recognized as a disease with airborne transmission with the potential to spread beyond the 6-foot social distancing measure, especially in places with poor ventilation or around activities with heavy breathing.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Schools on every level are already busy assembling coaches, players and recruits — assessing name, image and likeness potential as well as schedules and logistics — to get a head start.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • That geometry offers the rare possibility of watching an eclipsed sun descend toward the horizon.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping said the Type 076 amphibious assault ship marks a significant technological advance, introducing new possibilities for naval operations.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of possibility

Browse Nearby Words

conditional probabilities
conditional probability
conditioned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conditional probability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conditional%20probability. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on conditional probability

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conditional probability

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All