bernoulli trial: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “bernoulli trial” mean?
A random experiment with exactly two possible outcomes, typically labelled 'success' and 'failure', where the probability of success is constant for each trial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A random experiment with exactly two possible outcomes, typically labelled 'success' and 'failure', where the probability of success is constant for each trial.
A fundamental concept in probability theory and statistics, used as the building block for more complex distributions like the binomial distribution, describing a single event with a binary outcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., behaviour/behavior, modelling/modeling) when used in surrounding text.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Used with identical, low frequency exclusively in technical domains in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “bernoulli trial” in a Sentence
[A Bernoulli trial] is defined by its probability p.We can model [the coin flip] as [a Bernoulli trial].The experiment consists of [n independent Bernoulli trials].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bernoulli trial” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This process cannot be *Bernoulli trialled*; it's too complex.
American English
- We cannot *Bernoulli trial* this process; it's too complex.
adjective
British English
- The Bernoulli-trial assumption is fundamental to the model.
American English
- The Bernoulli trial assumption is fundamental to the model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in highly specialised quantitative risk modelling.
Academic
Core term in statistics, probability theory, mathematics, engineering, and quantitative psychology courses and literature.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Found in textbooks, research papers, and technical documentation related to probability, statistics, machine learning (e.g., modelling binary classification), and quality control.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bernoulli trial”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bernoulli trial”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bernoulli trial”
- Using it to describe events with more than two outcomes (e.g., rolling a die).
- Forgetting that the probability of success must be constant across trials for them to be considered Bernoulli trials.
- Pronouncing 'Bernoulli' with a hard English 'BURN' sound instead of 'ber-NOO-lee'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a single flip of a fair coin is the canonical example: two outcomes (heads/tails), with constant probability (0.5 for each).
A Bernoulli trial describes a single event with two outcomes. The Binomial distribution describes the number of successes in a fixed number of independent Bernoulli trials.
Yes. 'Success' and 'failure' are just conventional labels for the two outcomes; they are not value judgments. 'Success' simply denotes the outcome whose probability we are tracking.
No. The probability of 'success' (p) can be any fixed value between 0 and 1 (e.g., 0.1, 0.75). A fair coin (p=0.5) is just one special case.
A random experiment with exactly two possible outcomes, typically labelled 'success' and 'failure', where the probability of success is constant for each trial.
Bernoulli trial is usually technical / academic in register.
Bernoulli trial: in British English it is pronounced /bɜːˈnuːli ˌtraɪəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɝˈnuːli ˌtraɪəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “This is not a Bernoulli trial (said when a situation has more than two clear outcomes or changing probabilities).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Bernoulli trial as a 'BINARY-oulli' trial – it's all about two (bi) possible results, like a coin flip (Heads or Tails).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE COIN FLIP (The archetypal, concrete instantiation of the abstract concept).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a NECESSARY condition for an experiment to be a Bernoulli trial?