Random vs. Stochastic — What's the Difference?

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective

Stochastic (from Greek στόχος (stókhos) 'aim, guess') refers to the property of being well described by a random probability distribution. Although stochasticity and randomness are distinct in that the former refers to a modeling approach and the latter refers to phenomena themselves, these two terms are often used synonymously.

Mathematics & Statistics Of or relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.

Of, relating to, or characterized by conjecture; conjectural.

Of or relating to an event in which all outcomes are equally likely, as in the testing of a blood sample for the presence of a substance.

(Statistics) Involving or containing a random variable or process

A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.

Random, randomly determined.

(obsolete) Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force.

Conjectural; able to conjecture.

(obsolete) The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range.

Random; chance; involving probability; opposite of deterministic.

An undefined, unknown or unimportant person; a person of no consequence.

Of or pertaining to a process in which a series of calculations, selections, or observations are made, each one being randomly determined as a sample from a probability distribution.

(mining) The direction of a rake-vein.

Being or having a random variable;

A frame for composing type.

Having unpredictable outcomes and, in the ideal case, all outcomes equally probable; resulting from such selection; lacking statistical correlation.

(mathematics) Of or relating to probability distribution.

(computing) Pseudorandom; mimicking the result of random selection.

Representative and undistinguished; typical and average; selected for no particular reason.

Apropos of nothing; lacking context; unexpected; having apparent lack of plan, cause, or reason.

(colloquial) Characterized by or often saying random things; habitually using non sequiturs.

Being out of the ordinary; unusual or unexpected.

Force; violence.

A roving motion; course without definite direction; want of direction, rule, or method; hazard; chance; - commonly used in the phrase at random, that is, without a settled point of direction; at hazard.

Distance to which a missile is cast; range; reach; as, the random of a rifle ball.

The direction of a rake-vein.

Going at random or by chance; done or made at hazard, or without settled direction, aim, or purpose; hazarded without previous calculation; left to chance; haphazard; as, a random guess.

Of, pertaining to, or resulting from a process of selection from a starting set of items, in which the probability of selecting any one object in the starting set is equal to the probability of selecting any other.

Of unequal size or shape; made from components of unequal size or shape.

Lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance;

Taken haphazardly;