Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

stochastic

1. of or relating to a process involving a randomly determined sequence of observations each of which is considered as a sample of one element from a probability distribution.

/ stɒˈkæstɪk /

adjective

1. statistics

   1. (of a random variable) having a probability distribution, usually with finite variance
   2. (of a process) involving a random variable the successive values of which are not independent
   3. (of a matrix) square with non-negative elements that add to unity in each row

2. rare involving conjecture

3. Involving or containing a random variable or variables.

4. Involving chance or probability.

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Other Word Forms

• stochastically adverb
• stoˈchastically adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of stochastic1

1655–65; < Greek stochastikós, equivalent to stochas- (variant stem of stocházesthai to aim at) + -tikos -tic

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Word History and Origins

Origin of stochastic1

C17: from Greek stokhastikos capable of guessing, from stokhazesthai to aim at, conjecture, from stokhos a target

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The language used in Trump’s speeches in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, his fundraising emails and his communications more broadly are almost textbook stochastic terrorism.

These are just a few examples of a much larger pattern of violence, stochastic terrorism, and other violent and antidemocratic behavior by Trump during the last nine years.

“Each population is small and highly susceptible to stochastic events, especially wildfire,” notes a five-year status review for the frogs released last month by the U.S.

Mercieca said data show Trump’s attacks on groups of people have spurred “stochastic terrorism” — or political violence against groups of people targeted with hostile political rhetoric.

Here, quantities are calculated using random or stochastic processes.