# probabilistic

/ˌpɹɑbəbɪˈɫɪstək/ (US) · /pɹˌɒbəbɪlˈɪstɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/probabilistic
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

relating to the study of chance or probability. It describes things that are likely to happen but not certain.

For teachers: relating to or based on the theory of probability. Often used to describe models or systems that account for uncertainty and statistical likelihood rather than absolute certainty.

## Examples

- The weather forecast is a probabilistic model.
- In many modern games, the outcome is determined by a probabilistic algorithm rather than a fixed set of rules.
- The researcher argued that a probabilistic approach to the data was necessary to account for the inherent variability in human behavior across different cultural contexts.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
