Likeliness vs. Likelihood — What's the Difference?

Likeliness and Likelihood are two terms that address the probability or chance of something happening. While they essentially convey the same concept, there are nuances in their usage and preference. Likeliness, for instance, is derived from the word "likely," which is an adjective that describes the quality of being probable. On the other hand, Likelihood, while also conveying a sense of probability, tends to be the preferred term in statistical or more formal contexts.

If you dive into the construction of both words, Likeliness employs the suffix "-ness," which is commonly used to turn adjectives into nouns, indicating a state or quality. This means Likeliness is essentially referring to the state of being likely. Likelihood, in contrast, uses the suffix "-hood," which often implies a state, condition, or quality, making its meaning very similar to Likeliness but with a slightly different linguistic root.

In practical usage, if someone is discussing everyday events or scenarios, they might use either term based on personal preference. However, when delving into subjects that require precision, such as mathematics, statistics, or science, Likelihood is the term more often chosen. This is not because one is more accurate than the other, but because Likelihood has traditionally been the term associated with these fields.