Spanish word

posibilidad

Pronunciation

IPA/posiβiliˈðað/

Meaning

  • feminine nounchance

Example

Hay posibilidad de lluvia esta tarde.

There is a chance of rain this afternoon.

Illustration for posibilidad (chance)

More examples

Tenemos la posibilidad de cambiar la fecha.

We have the chance to change the date.

Core concept

Room within the circumstances for an action to take place.

Common phrases

  • tener la posibilidad de

    have the chance to

  • hay posibilidad de

    there is a chance of

  • dar la posibilidad de

    give the chance to

Similar words

probabilidad: Degree of likelihood that a particular event occurs.
oportunidad: Favorable occasion that makes doing something practical.
opción: Single selectable choice among several.
alternativa: Different selectable course of action.

Definition in Spanish

Situación o margen que permite que algo ocurra o que una acción pueda intentarse.

Word origin

Derived from Latin possibilis 'able' with the suffix -idad, originally conveying the idea of 'room' or 'capacity' for something to be possible.

Usage tips

  • Posibilidad commonly appears with 'de' plus an infinitive to express potentiality rather than a guaranteed outcome, and oportunidad is preferable for a concrete opportunity.

Other meanings

  • prospectnoun
  • opportunitynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word