Main Entry:

odds

Pronunciation:

\ˈädz\

Function:

noun plural but singular or plural in construction

Date:

circa 1520

1 aarchaic : inequalities bobsolete : degree of unlikeness2 a: an amount by which one thing exceeds or falls short of another <won the election by considerable odds> b (1): a difference favoring one of two opposed things <overwhelming odds> (2): a difference in terms of advantage or disadvantage <what's the odds, if thinking so makes them happy — Flora Thompson> c (1): the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another : chances <the odds are against it> (2): the ratio of the probability of one event to that of an alternative event3: disagreement, variance —usually used with at<faculty and administration often are at odds on everything — W. E. Brock b1930>4 a: special favor : partiality b: an allowance granted by one making a bet to one accepting the bet and designed to equalize the chances favoring one of the bettors c: the ratio between the amount to be paid off for a winning bet and the amount of the bet

— by all odds

: in every way : without question <by all odds the best book of the year>