stochastic

adjective

sto·​chas·​tic stə-ˈka-stik How to pronounce stochastic (audio)
stō-
1
: random
specifically : involving a random variable
a stochastic process
2
: involving chance or probability : probabilistic
a stochastic model of radiation-induced mutation
stochastically adverb

Examples of stochastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Everyday computers can solve stochastic problems, but implementing probabilistic noise in software quickly gets very costly. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Dec. 2022 Building a concise yet powerful representation, according to this view, demonstrates true understanding. with scale, the researchers believe, these models begin to understand Models trained as next-token predictors learn stochastic patterns. Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Quantum tunneling is fundamentally stochastic, but it can be guided so that particles jump in predictable patterns. Haomiao Huang, Ars Technica, 23 Aug. 2023 Nonetheless, Hinton thinks the work lays to rest the question of whether LLMs are stochastic parrots. Quanta Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024 Normal Computing’s stochastic processing unit, or SPU, exploits the thermodynamic properties of electrical oscillators to perform calculations using random fluctuations that occur inside the circuits. Will Knight, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024 But their conviction suggests that, in a stochastic world, medical information fosters a feeling of agency. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024 Another consideration is that these AI models are fundamentally stochastic. Haomiao Huang, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2023 Statistics and the stochastic parroting of human text are at play. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stochastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek stochastikos skillful in aiming, from stochazesthai to aim at, guess at, from stochos target, aim, guess — more at sting

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stochastic was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near stochastic

Cite this Entry

“Stochastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stochastic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

stochastic

adjective
sto·​chas·​tic stə-ˈkas-tik How to pronounce stochastic (audio) stō- How to pronounce stochastic (audio)
1
: involving a random variable
a stochastic process
2
: involving chance or probability
a stochastic model of radiation-induced mutation
stochastically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stochastic

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